COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Age: Discrimination

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to bring forward legislation to give older people the same protection against discrimination as is available to other groups; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Government are considering whether there is a case for introducing legislation to prohibit harmful age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services as part of the Discrimination Law Review.

Community Development: Public Participation

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the level of interaction between New Deal for Communities boards and residents; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: NDCs are governed by partnership boards of which, on average, 59 per cent. of members are local residents.
	We also monitor the engagement of local people in the wider activities of the NDC through a National Evaluation of the programme. The last household survey, undertaken in 2006, showed that more than a fifth of NDC residents were engaged in NDC activities.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Valuation Office Agency drafted or produced a privacy impact assessment for the council tax revaluation.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 1 February 2007,  Official Report, column 414W and 6 February 2007,  Official Report, column 783W.

Housing: Valuation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will estimate  (a) the average value of all homes valued in excess of £1 million in the UK and  (b) how many homes in the UK are valued in excess of £1 million.

Phil Woolas: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

New Deal for Communities

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the expenditure on new deal for communities programmes for each council was in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: New deal for communities (NDC) provides grants to local authorities with NDC Partnerships for them to spend on regenerating their neighbourhoods. NDC Partnerships are made up of local people and residents working in partnership with people from local agencies such as the local authority.
	NDC grant is paid through an accountable body (usually, but not always, the local authority) to the NDC Partnership to meet the costs incurred in delivering the NDC Partnerships delivery plan. The following table shows the NDC grant paid to each local authority in each of the last five years between 2002-03 and 2006-07, (The figure for 2006-07 is a forecast).
	NDC is a 10 year programme and the figures only capture part of the full allocations to be paid to each partnership. These figures also exclude expenditure provided by partner organisations such as the police, primary care trusts and local authorities.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Local authority  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Birmingham(1) 3.553 8.021 10.396 10.997 15.055 
			 Bradford 8.096 8.613 10.250 9.611 6.632 
			 Brent 2.307 4.343 7.107 8.086 7.356 
			 Brighton and Hove 6.121 7.672 8.695 7.225 1.121 
			 Bristol 5.504 7.981 7.627 6.675 9.477 
			 Coventry 1.231 5.050 6.976 7.300 8.577 
			 Derby 3.386 7.056 6.938 7.151 6.747 
			 Doncaster 2.915 3.481 5.444 4.580 5.977 
			 Hackney 5.872 5.457 4.566 7.897 6.984 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2.782 4.481 6.595 8.179 6.769 
			 Haringey 4.540 8.789 6.855 9.162 6.402 
			 Hartlepool 4.692 6.642 10.610 10.900 6.877 
			 Islington 1.535 4.014 5.425 6.386 7.114 
			 Kingston upon Hull 7.479 10.869 15.251 6.742 5.603 
			 Knowsley 3.147 5.232 6.973 6.190 9.247 
			 Lambeth 2.508 3.792 8.405 9.122 9.736 
			 Leicester 4.104 8.338 11.826 6.663 6.347 
			 Lewisham 2.815 4.143 4.829 7.546 6.372 
			 Liverpool 5.135 5.962 8.316 8.510 8.127 
			 Luton 6.180 3.389 4.594 5.656 6.079 
			 Manchester 8.313 17.120 3.841 1.700 3.235 
			 Middlesbrough 5.643 8.132 8.738 10.120 6.502 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 5.012 7.910 8.633 6.486 6.118 
			 Newham 7.299 8.847 11.849 8.655 6.854 
			 Norwich 8.209 6.797 6.731 5.000 2.424 
			 Nottingham 6.779 4.688 7.293 8.983 7.739 
			 Oldham 1.993 10.209 5.946 6.3-50 8.279 
			 Plymouth 2.728 2.214 4.105 4.750 6.377 
			 Rochdale 5.388 6.052 5.206 5.900 7.000 
			 Salford 4.187 4.832 7.407 6.850 7.177 
			 Sandwell 4.792 7.260 5.508 9.042 7.679 
			 Sheffield 2.821 5.565 7.971 10.000 10.297 
			 Southampton 1.677 3.831 4.401 5.947 8.227 
			 Southwark 3.792 3.926 4.814 2.292 3.207 
			 Sunderland 3.767 3.890 5.634 4.130 7.302 
			 Tower Hamlets 5.318 6.865 5,583 5.279 9.221 
			 Walsall 3.786 3.000 9.035 8.900 6.381 
			 Wolverhampton 1.628 3.250 4.368 5.504 8.077 
			 Total 167.034 237.713 274.741 270.466 275.301 
			 (1 )Birmingham has two NDCs (Kings Norton and Aston)

New Deal for Communities

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the New Deal for Communities programme in  (a) Haringey,  (b) Walsall and  (c) Plymouth.

Phil Woolas: All 39 New Deal for Communities Partnerships (NDC) are required to prepare an annual Delivery Plan which sets out the objectives and outcomes proposed by each NDC for the coming year. These plans are assessed and approved by the Government Office for the region.
	For the reporting year 2005-06, Walsall was rated as an 'Excellent' performing NDC, while Haringey and Plymouth were both rated as 'Good'.

Parking: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many parking spaces per head of population there are in Central Milton Keynes  (a) in 2007 and  (b) planned for each of the next five years.

Phil Woolas: The Local Transport Plan states that there are over 20,000 car parking spaces in Milton Keynes. It is our understanding from Milton Keynes; council that  (a) in 2007 there are 20,875 parking bays that are publicly accessible in central Milton Keynes; these include those on the public highway and in third party ownership and this works out at 0.09198 of a space per head of population. The Local Transport Plan does not contain the level of car parking over the next five years. The local council have indicated that number of parking spaces planned for the next five years  (b) is projected at the 2007 level, but work is underway by council officers to develop a long term parking strategy for central Milton Keynes.
	After a lengthy period of public consultation, the approved Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy for this growth area aims to encourage a shift towards more sustainable modes of travel in the future.

Parking: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of annual parking revenue for the council in Milton Keynes  (a) collected in each of the last five years and  (b) projected for each of the next two years.

Phil Woolas: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has made  (a) no estimate of annual parking revenue for the council at Milton Keynes collected in each of the last five years, or  (b) projected for each of the next two years. This is because this is a locally determined matter for Milton Keynes council, whose statements of accounts for previous years and projected calculated position for the next two years are publicly available information from the local authority.

Travelling People

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs assessments  (a) have been completed and  (b) are outstanding.

Meg Munn: Information collected in March showed that accommodation needs assessments for Gypsies and Travellers were under way, or had been completed, in 90 per cent. of local authorities.

Workforce Efficiency Savings: Milton Keynes Council

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what workforce efficiency savings have been reported to her Department as agreed by Milton Keynes Council for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Phil Woolas: The Department has not yet received final information on councils' plans (including those of Milton Keynes council) for new efficiency gains in 2007-08; they are expected to be published later in the year.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Bible: Anniversaries

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if her Department will commemorate the 400(th) anniversary in 2011 of the publication of the King James version of the Bible.

David Lammy: My Department currently has no plans in place to commemorate the 400(th) anniversary of the King James version of the Bible in 2011.

London Olympics

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects a final budget to be agreed for the 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House of 15 March 2007.

London Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  pursuant to her oral statement of 15 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 450-52, on the 2012 Olympics, if she will break down by area of planned expenditure the £3.1 billion for the building of the Olympic Park;
	(2)  if she will break down by area of planned expenditure the £1.7 billion for infrastructure and regeneration.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 23 March 2007
	Further to my statement of 15 March 2007, I have set out in the following table a breakdown by area of the planned expenditure for the Olympic Park and infrastructure and regeneration.
	
		
			  Item  Cost (£ million) 
			 Venues (inc IBC/MPC and legacy conversion) 1,063 
			 Transport 794 
			 Additional 1 per cent. inflation allowance, support for the Olympic village and insurance 386 
			 Other, including Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) running costs and site security 838 
			 ODA core costs of Olympics 3,081 
			   
			 Olympic regeneration 1,673 
			  Including:  
			 Enabling works  
			 Landscaping  
			 Roads, bridges and tunnels  
			 Power lines undergrounding  
			 Utilities  
			   
			 ODA programme contingency 500 
			   
			 ODA budget (net of tax) 5,254 
			   
			 Sports, including community sport participation, Paralympics and other non-ODA costs 388 
			   
			  Other provisions  
			 Provision for policing and wider security 600 
			 Tax programme 836 
			 Contingency (including tax) 2,247 
			 Total 9,325 
		
	
	To provide more information at this time could jeopardise current and future commercial negotiations concerning venue and infrastructure contracts. However further information will be available later this year, when the ODA publishes its corporate plan.

London Olympics

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assumptions were made of the total level of administrative costs accrued to the body charged with the construction of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the  (a) Arup report,  (b) Olympic bid document, (c) PriceWaterhouseCoopers' Olympic Games Impact Study,  (d) Faithful and Gould analysis of costs and  (e) her evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 21 November 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: Arup based the initial estimates of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) administration costs on previous games and recommended a sum of £15.6 million at 2002 prices, excluding consultants. PWC advised that core costs of £15 million would be sufficient for the ODA, assuming that they were to be an organisation of the same size and responsibilities as an Urban Development Corporation, but advised that a fuller "bottom-up" analysis of costs was required. This was undertaken by KPMG in 2005. Faithful and Gould were not commissioned by my Department and we are not aware of any estimates they may have made.
	Since winning the bid, the work my Department has done has calculated that, as the ODA's scope and functions will increase, the sums of money required for their administration must also increase.
	In my response, published on the 26 March 2007, to the Select Committee's report I said the total cost of the ODA's programme delivery budget, would be £570 million. The increase in costs reflects the fact that the ODA was to undertake an increase in responsibilities, delivering not just the necessary venues for the games but the associated legacy and regeneration ambitions set by the Government. This sum represents around 10 per cent. of the total costs of the ODA Programme of £5,254 million, net of tax, and is consistent with industry norms for a project of this scale, complexity and concentration. Of this the combined staffing, accommodation and IT cost of ODA and the Delivery Partner, CLM, is £476 million. The balance of £94 million is to cover the establishment on the Olympic Park site of the necessary provision for up to 9,000 construction workers, including health and canteen facilities and transportation.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when body armour was first provided to Marine forces in Afghanistan for their current deployment; and how long the gap was between deployment and issuance of such armour.

Adam Ingram: Since 2004 it has been departmental policy that all troops should be provided with Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) before they deploy to an operational Theatre, and so all members of 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, who deployed to Afghanistan were issued with this equipment before deployment in autumn 2006.
	In addition, Improved Performance Body Armour (Osprey), which has an enhanced fragmentation vest and larger plates, and Enhanced Personal Protective Equipment (Kestrel), which provides even greater protection have been provided to operational Theatres for use against specific threats and for specific roles. Delivery of Osprey to Afghanistan began in February 2006, and delivery of Kestrel in May 2006; all three types of body armour were available to the Royal Marines for the entirety of their operational tour.

Armed Forces: Uniforms

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of supplying dress uniforms to officers in the  (a) Royal Navy,  (b) Royal Air Force and  (c) Army in the last year for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: Royal Navy and Royal Air Force dress uniforms are provided by a 'supply fit' contract which means units raise demands directly with the supplier to provide and fit uniforms at specific locations. Due to the nature of this contract, it is not possible to provide information on how many dress uniforms were supplied as this information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The approximate cost of the uniform is £135.00.
	Army officers are given an outfit allowance, with which to purchase all their uniform requirements, and this varies from regiment to regiment. The majority of grants will be around £2,100.00 it is not possible to separate out the costs of dress uniforms from this.

Bombs

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the legal status of dumb cluster munitions.

Adam Ingram: There is no treaty which specifically prohibits or restricts the use of cluster munitions; they are legal weapons when used in compliance with International Humanitarian Law.

War Pensions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many war pensions were awarded under each level of the Armed Forces Compensation scheme in each year since 2001.

Derek Twigg: War pensions are not awarded under the Armed Forces Compensation scheme which was introduced on 6 April 2005 and applies only to injuries and deaths caused on or after that date. War pensions are awarded under the Naval, Military and Air Forces, Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order in respect of injuries and deaths caused before 6 April 2005.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Expenditure

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to reduce significantly his Department's budget.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to reduce his departmental expenditure in line with Whitehall efficiency savings targets.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) this morning.

Travel Budget

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated budget of his Department for travel is in 2007-08.

John Prescott: All travel is undertaken in accordance with the guidance set out in the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers, and the Civil Service Management Code.
	Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more.
	The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists for previous years are available in the Library. Information for the financial year 2006-07 will be published as soon as it is ready.

Departmental Funding

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department has been allocated for each of the next three years.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding has been allocated to his Department for each of the next three years.

John Prescott: My Department's Main Estimate for 2007-08 will be published along with those for other Departments. DPMO is participating in the comprehensive spending review in the same way as other Departments.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Households Below Average Income

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment she has made of the implications of the households below average income report for 2005-06 for social exclusion.

Hilary Armstrong: This Government have made significant progress in tackling child poverty. Since 1997 we have lifted 600,000 children out of relative poverty. Our drive to meet the challenges raised in the Households Below Average Income Report will be addressed by the recent Budget measures which are anticipated to lift a further 200,000 children out of poverty.

Social Exclusion

Si�n Simon: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment her Department has made of the key risk factors associated with falling into social exclusion.

Patrick McFadden: While the Government have a strong record on reducing poverty and social exclusion, the Social Exclusion Action Plan, published in September 2006, identified a number of risks for a small proportion of households, which included: substance misuse, mental health problems, offending, being in care, teenage pregnancy and lack of basic skills. The Government also recognises that children in families with multiple problems often go on to experience poor outcomes in later life.
	The Social Exclusion Task Force is taking forward a range of initiatives to address these risk factors.

Social Exclusion

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what responsibilities she has for promoting early intervention as a means of tackling social exclusion; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Armstrong: The Social Exclusion Action Plan, published in September 2006, identified a number of guiding principles to inform the Government's approach to tackling social exclusion, including early intervention. The most significant area of current work that links strongly to this principle is the Nurse-Family Partnership pilots, which provide a structured and intensive home visiting programme by health visitors to disadvantaged mothers from pregnancy until the child is aged two.

Third Sector Funding

Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans she has to provide micro-grants for small voluntary and community organisations.

Edward Miliband: In response to the largest ever consultation with the third sector, the Chancellor announced in the Budget a new 80 million fund, spread over four years, to provide core funding to grass-roots community organisations. The fund reflects the vital contribution of small community groups to our society and neighbourhoods.

Charities: Income Tax Cut

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect on charities of the 2 per cent. cut in the basic rate of income tax from April 2008.

Edward Miliband: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have discussed the impact of the cut in the basic rate of income tax on gift aid and the need to build on the progress made since 1997 which has led to an increase in the resources going to charities through gift aid from 134 million to 750 million.
	The Charities Aid Foundation estimate that 700 million is potentially available from more tax effective giving and we aim to come forward with measures at the time of the pre-Budget report, prior to the introduction of the basic rate cut next year.

Vulnerable Parents

Jessica Morden: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Government are taking to support vulnerable parents in the first two years of a child's life.

Hilary Armstrong: In addition to the universal services provided by health visitors and midwives, the Government have invested over 21 billion on early years and child care services since 1997, with 1,250 Sure Start Children's Centres already in operation. Moreover, on 2 April 10 health-led parenting pilots went live across England, based on the extremely successful Nurse-Family Partnership scheme. These pilots will provide structured and intensive home visiting to disadvantaged mothers from early pregnancy until the child is aged two.

Community Assets Ownership

Sally Keeble: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps she is taking to increase community ownership of public assets.

Edward Miliband: The Government are committed to expanding the opportunities for communities to manage or own public assets. On 30 March I announced that the Big Lottery Fund will manage the 30 million Community Assets Fund on behalf of the Government. This new fund will seek to improve the ability of local community organisations to take on the management or ownership of local authority assets in England, by offering capital to refurbish them.
	The Office of the Third Sector is now consulting on aspects of how the fund will work, to ensure that it will provide long-term benefits for local communities.

Antisocial Behaviour: Families

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate she has made of the cost of  (a) supporting a problem family in the community and  (b) early intervention support for such a family.

Patrick McFadden: There is no archetypal 'problem family'. We are committed to engaging with families who are excluded because they have multiple problems and the costs associated with supporting a family with multiple problems vary according to the number and type of services being used. Recent HMT analysis of published research suggests that a family suffering from five problems (depression, alcohol misuse, domestic violence, short periods of homelessness and being involved in criminality) are estimated to create costs of between 55,000 to 115,000 per year. Illustrative estimates produced by the Social Exclusion Task Force suggest that a family with parental drug problems and experience of prison, care services and unemployment may use services costing around 117,000 per year.
	Early intervention is widely acknowledged as a cost effective approach to supporting families at risk of or experiencing multiple problems. Currently, the most robust assessments of the costs and benefits of early intervention have come from international research. For example, US evaluation of the Nurse Family Partnership model demonstrates that high-quality social support alongside antenatal clinical care for the most at risk families from pregnancy to the age of two has a sustained impact on a wide range of longer term outcomes. Independent evaluations show a per family cost of around US$8,000 over two and a half years which accrues downstream savings equivalent to four times the cost of the actual programme for the most at risk families.
	To help build the evidence base on the costs and benefits of early intervention in the UK, the Government are developing and rigorously evaluating a programme based upon the Nurse Family Partnership in 10 areas across England. This programme will go live across 10 areas in April. Furthermore, the Social Exclusion Task Force is leading work on analysis of downstream costs associated with social exclusion and savings associated with early intervention.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures are in place to limit the amount of money spent on alcohol for hospitality purposes by her Department.

Hilary Armstrong: All Cabinet Office expenditure on official hospitality including alcohol is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety, copies of which are available in the Library for the reference of Members.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Education Maintenance Allowances

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was of education maintenance allowances in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07; and what the expected cost is in 2007-08.

Phil Hope: Expenditure on education maintenance allowance in the years requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Full costs (   million) 
			 Actual 2005-06 407 
			 Forecast(1 )2006-07 525 
			 Expected cost 2007-08 577 
			 (1 )Final end of year figures on the EMA payments for 2006-07 will not be available until 25 April 2007

Higher Education: Gender

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what studies have been commissioned by his Department on the gender gap in university applications; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Department has not commissioned any research to look at the gender gap in university applications. Figures from UCAS show that there is a higher number of women applying overall to higher education compared to menin 2006, of all English domiciled applicants who applied to English HEIs, 55.4 per cent. were female (Source: http://www.ucas.ac.uk/figures/ucasdata/sex/index.html). There are differences between men and women in terms of subjects applied for. More men apply for courses in: Engineering; Mathematical and Computer Science; Technologies; Architecture, Building and Planning; and Physical Science. More women apply for courses in: Education; Medicine; Veterinary Science; Agriculture and Related subjects; European languages; Literature and related subjects; Linguistics; Classics; and Combined Arts.
	We do not clearly know the reasons for the differences in the numbers and patterns of applications between men and women; more broadly prior attainment has been seen as the most significant determinant of HE participation. The Department is, therefore, undertaking internal analysis to look at the gender gap in higher education participation and how it has changed over time.

Higher Education: Practical Training

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of hours of practical skills based training available in degree courses in higher education in each year between 1996 and 2006.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is not collected or held centrally. Collecting such information would incur disproportionate costs and be overly bureaucratic.

Higher Education: Student Numbers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many students were studying for a first degree at UK universities in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many  (a) UK nationals,  (b) non-UK EU citizens and  (c) students from countries outside the EU were studying for their first degree in UK universities in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Students( 1)  on first degree courses at UK higher education institution( 2 ) 2001/02 to 2005/06 
			   Students from( 3) :  
			  Academic year  UK  Other EU countries( 4)  Non EU countries  Total 
			 2001/02 951,800 42,835 54,195 1,048,830 
			 2002/03 985,865 41,025 65,890 1,092,780 
			 2003/04 1,013,710 39,260 75,395 1,128,365 
			 2004/05 1,029,095 44,040 79,510 1,152,645 
			 2005/06 1,061,070 48,100 82,105 1,191,270 
			 (1) Figures are based on HESA's Standard Registration Population, which counts the number of students enrolled throughout the year. Includes students on full-time and part-time courses. (2) Excludes students at the Open University (OU). Up to 2002/03, the OU did not distinguish students on first degree courses from those on other undergraduate courses. The numbers of OU students on first degree courses since then was 82,415 in 2003/04, 85,015 in 2004/05 and 87,585 in 2005/06. (3) Based on the student's normal country of domicile. (4) From 2004/05, includes students from the accession countries.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5, so components may not sum to totals

Learndirect

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many individuals  (a) have been helped to find courses by learndirect advice services and  (b) gained qualifications with the help of learndirect.

Phil Hope: Between February 1998 and February 2007 more than 8.5 million calls were made to the learndirect advice line. The learndirect website hosted more than 40 million information and advice sessions.
	Users of this service often make more than one call and use the website more than once. An estimated 7 million people have called the learndirect advice line and more than half go on to do a course in the following six months.
	The learndirect advice guidance trial, providing free in-depth careers guidance on the telephone, was launched in January 2007. This service provides people with up to three advice sessions over a month-long period. By February 2007 more than 90,000 people had used the learndirect guidance trial.
	Learndirect provision is now the size of about 10 FE colleges, with more than 300,000 learners a year. In the academic year 2005-06, learndirect delivered a quarter of the Learning and Skills Council's target for adult Skills for Life qualifications in England.
	Between April 2003 and February 2007, more than 125,000 people have achieved their first Skills for Life (literacy or numeracy) qualification through learndirect. Between August 2005 and February 2007, nearly 3,000 learners have achieved a Level 2 National Vocational Qualification through learndirect. In addition, learndirect 'Learning through Work' has enrolled more than 2,500 students. Of these, more than 600 have gained work-based qualifications from level 3 up to level 8, including foundation degrees, honours degrees, and masters.

Students: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of Higher Education Funding Council for England-funded students are on first full Level 4 degrees.

Bill Rammell: In full-time equivalent terms, 78 per cent. of all HEFCE funded activity in 2005-06 was attributable to students aiming for a first level 4 degree (i.e. those who entered a first degree or foundation degree without a prior qualification at level 4 degree or above).

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to call for an earlier disclosure of farm payments made by the EU prior to the scheduled date of 2009.

Barry Gardiner: Details of payments made to beneficiaries of common agricultural policy funding in England are already publicly available. The Government welcome the European Commission's proposals to extend this principle across the EU, but will wish to consider the detailed implementation requirements carefully, including the administrative burdens on paying agencies.

Asbestos

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when guidance on soil values for asbestos is expected to be published.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 16 April 2007
	The Environment Agency (EA) is working closely with the Health and Safety Laboratory on a number of work streams aimed at overcoming some of the scientific and technical problems associated with assessing the risk to human health posed by asbestos in soils. Work is also ongoing to develop an appropriate health criteria value for asbestos in soils. The end product will be detailed qualitative and quantitative technical guidance which can be used in assessing individual sites against the definition of contaminated land established under part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	The EA expects to have the material ready for publication by the end of 2007, subject to the outcome of current proposals for other improvements to existing technical guidance in the contaminated land field.

Azurlox

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why a certificate is needed to purchase Azurlox.

Ian Pearson: The Control of Pesticide Regulations 1986 requires anyone who sells, supplies or uses a pesticide to have a certificate of competence. There is no obligation for a user to be in possession of a certificate of competence in order to purchase a pesticide product. If a supplier chooses not to sell a pesticide to a person who cannot prove competence to use that product this is entirely at their discretion.

Carbon Emissions

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK's carbon emissions were in 2005; and what percentage change they represented from the level in 1990.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 16 April 2007
	 Total net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2005 were reported in the 2005 UK climate change sustainable development indicator and greenhouse gas emissions final figures on 29 January 2007. These data show that CO2 emissions were 554.2 million tonnes, a decrease of 6.4 per cent. between 1990 and 2005.

Eaga Partnership: Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what rating system the Eaga Partnership uses for inspection of the work of firms undertaking work on the Warm Front scheme; and what score was given to each installer on the scheme following the most recent inspection.

Ian Pearson: The Warm Front scheme manager, Eaga plc, inspects work carried out under the scheme against an established technical specification for each measure installed. These technical specifications are regularly reviewed by Eaga plc and DEFRA, and updated in line with amendments to legislation and best practice.
	In the event that any measure installed under the Warm Front scheme fails an inspection, Eaga plc have robust processes in place for the identification and completion of all required remedial work by the initial contractor. A proportion of these works are then re-inspected to ensure full compliance.
	Any installer whose performance under the scheme falls below agreed standards has their work allocation reduced or suspended until such a time that they can demonstrate improvement to the required standard.

Eggs

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition his Department uses of free-range eggs; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: Free range, on an egg or poultry meat product, is a special marketing term (SMT) indicating that the product has been produced in compliance with the criteria set-out in the respective marketing regulations.
	All EU requirements for free range systems can be found in Council Directive 1999/74/EC, Commission Regulation 2295/2003/EC, as amended by Commission Regulation 1515/2004/EC, and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002.

Energy: Conservation

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance is provided to the owners of mobile homes to improve their energy efficiency.

Ian Pearson: Details of grants and offers for energy efficiency measures are available, by postcode, on the Energy Saving Trust website, which is funded by my Department to promote and support energy efficiency in the household sector. The trust's Innovation Programme has included two projects relating to the use of energy efficiency measures in mobile homes.
	All households eligible under the Government's Warm Front scheme, regardless of property type, are entitled to a package of measures from the full range available under the scheme. These include, for example, central heating, the repair or replacement of an existing heating system, wall or storage heaters and insulation measures including hot water tank jackets, cavity wall, loft insulation and draught-proofing.
	As with all properties, the exact package of measures provided is dependent upon a range of factors. These include property size and construction, utility supply, existing heating and insulation measures and customer preference, with the most suitable combination of measures being recommended at assessment.
	Warm Front is constantly evaluating the range of measures it provides. In particular, a number of low carbon alternative technologies are under consideration for inclusion under the scheme. Several of these technologies will be applicable to mobile homes and will enhance the assistance provided to 'hard to treat' properties.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what standards have been set for local emissions of oxides of nitrogen in the  (a) UK and  (b) European Union; and how many UK (i) sites and (ii) airport sites exceed those standards.

Ian Pearson: There are controls on both emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in ambient air, through European legislation.
	The National Emissions Ceiling Directive 2001/81/EC (NECD) sets ceilings for each member state for emissions of NOx, ammonia (NH3), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These four pollutants are primarily responsible for acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone. The ceilings must be met by 2010.
	Since 1970, there has been a reduction in total NOx emissions of 47 per cent. The main contributors to UK NOx emissions currently are the transport, power generation and industry sectors. The total NOx emission for the UK in 2004 was 1,621 kilotonnes (kt).
	The UK ceiling for NOx under the NECD is set at 1167kt. The UK expects to meet the obligations for complying with the NECD ceilings in 2010.
	In terms of ambient concentrations, at a national level there are two provisional Air Quality Strategy Objectives for NO2 for the protection of human health: (i) a one-hour mean concentration of 200 micrograms per metre cubed (micro g.m(-3)) not to be exceeded more than 18 times per year and (ii) an annual mean concentration of 40 micro g.m(-3). The target date for both of these to be achieved was 31 December 2005. There are two EU air quality Limit Values for NO2 for the protection of human health: (a) a one-hour
	mean concentration of 200micro g.m(-3)( )cubed not to be exceeded more than 18 times per year and (b) an annual mean concentration of 40 micro g.m(-3). The target date for both of these to be achieved is 1 January 2010. There is a further EU air quality limit value for NOx for the protection of vegetation and ecosystems set at 30micro g.m(-3)( )to be met by 19 July 2001.
	In 2006, two out of 110 operational monitoring sites measured exceedences of the one-hour mean EU Limit Value and Air Quality Strategy objectives. These sites were in London and both were within five metres of roads. The national monitoring network has two sites close to airports: London Harlington and Manchester South. In 2006, there were two exceedences of the one-hour mean nitrogen dioxide concentration of 200micro g.m(-3)( )at London Harlington (one kilometre (km) from Heathrow airport perimeter road), and none at Manchester South (2.9 km from Manchester airport).
	Also in 2006, 24 out of 110 operational monitoring sites measured exceedences of the annual mean EU Limit Value and Air Quality Strategy objectives. Of these, 14 were in London and the majority were within 10 metres of roads. The 2006 annual mean at London Harlington was 37micro g.m(-3)( )and at Manchester South it was 16micro g.m(-3).
	Data and information from the national air quality monitoring networks are freely available from the National Air Quality Information Archive at:
	www.airquality.co.uk.

Pesticides

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the documents on which the decision to prohibit the use of isoproturon and trifluralin was based; and what consultation the Pesticides Safety Directorate carried out on this matter.

Ian Pearson: Isoproturon and trifluralin have been considered as part of a European Community (EC) review of the safety of active substances used in agricultural pesticides under Council Directive 91/414/EEC.
	Isoproturon was approved under the review in 2001, on condition that member states ensure the adequate protection of aquatic organisms when authorising products which contain it. Following an evaluation of data presented by applicants for such products in the UK, the Pesticides Safety Directorate identified an unacceptable risk to aquatic life. The independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides concluded that this risk could not be satisfactorily managed and all authorised uses of isoproturon in the UK should therefore be withdrawn. I have arranged for the draft minutes of the Committee's 323rd meeting to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	A decision was taken, in March 2007, not to approve trifluralin under the review, in particular because of concerns about its toxicity to aquatic organisms, its high persistence in soil, and its potential for long-range transport in air. All authorised uses of trifluralin in the EC will therefore be withdrawn. I have arranged for a summary of the conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority, on which this decision was based, to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The Pesticides Safety Directorate does not consult on individual decisions made under the review. Decisions about safety are determined on the basis of scientific data presented by applicants and evaluated to agreed European standards. Applicants may submit further applications supported by additional data if they believe they can demonstrate that there are no unacceptable risks to the environment.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Drugs

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government received a list containing the names of Afghan politicians and Government officials alleged to be involved in the heroin trade from a senior Afghan minister in late 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 27 March 2007
	We can find no evidence that such a list has been received by the Government.

Holidays Abroad: Death

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British holidaymakers died abroad in 2006.

Kim Howells: In the financial year (FY) 2005-06, there were 4,071 deaths abroad of British nationals requiring action by our consular staff. This figure is derived from our Consular Annual Return (CAR) and the CAR does not provide a breakdown of their status, i.e. visitor or resident. Details for FY 2005-06 are provided as the information from the CAR is captured by FY and not calendar year.

Sudan: War Crimes

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for British foreign policy of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) indictment of Ahmad Muhammad Ali-Al-Rahman (Ali Kushayb), Janjaweed militia leader, for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur in 2003 and 2004; and whether she plans further to support the work of the ICC in seeking accountability for crimes committed in Darfur.

Kim Howells: On 27 February, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor asked the court's pre-trial chamber to issue summonses for Kushayb and another individual as a result of investigations into the situation in Darfur. It is a positive sign that the ICC investigation has reached this point. It is now for the ICC judges to decide whether to approve the prosecutor's request.
	The ICC will continue to have our full support for its activities, both in Darfur and elsewhere. It must also have the full and unconditional co-operation of the Government of Sudan. We have made this clear to the authorities in Khartoum and will be monitoring their actions carefully.
	Progress in the ICC's investigations further consolidate the court as a key part of the international community's efforts to combat impunity for the alleged perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The UK remains at the forefront of those crimes.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services: Emergency Calls

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1189W, on ambulance services: emergency calls, if she will break down the figures by primary care trust.

Andy Burnham: This information is not held centrally by primary care trust. Information on emergency calls received by each national health service ambulance trust is available in the Library in Ambulance Services, England: 2005-06, as well as at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk

Care Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to encourage the NHS and social services to increase provision of intermediate  (a) care services and  (b) beds.

Ivan Lewis: As part of the intermediate care funding announced in the NHS Plan, 66 million capital funding was made available to strategic health authorities in 2002-03 and 2003-04 to expand capacity and to support the development of intermediate care services and in particular a growth in bed numbers.
	As at 30 September 2006, there were almost 33,000 intermediate care beds and places. Compared to 1999-2000 the number of intermediate care beds has more than doubled, the number of intermediate care places in non-residential settings has trebled and almost three times as many people benefit from intermediate care.

Centrally Funded Initiatives Services and Special Allocations

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the planned Centrally Funded Initiatives Services and Special Allocations budget is for 2006-07; when those budgets were given to primary care trusts; what flexibility there is for changing plans in-year, and what advice she has given to primary care trusts on in-year changes.

Andy Burnham: Full year 2006-07 information on centrally funded initiatives services and special allocations (CFISSA) is not yet available but the 2006-07 departmental report that has an estimated publishing date of May 2007 will provide a breakdown of the main budget lines. For the 2006-07 departmental report it is proposed to refer to this area simply as the central national health service programme.
	The vast majority of the 2006-07 CFISSA allocations were notified to strategic health authorities' (SHAs) directors of finance on 26 July 2006. The aim has always been to allocate the funding as early as possible, but there is always a small proportion allocated late in the financial year. The residual items were issued on 19 January 2007.
	To give SHAs the maximum possible flexibility, the funding for the central budget programme was allocated as a single bundle allocation to SHAs. One of the key objectives of the bundle is to enable local decision making by the NHS. Each SHA is responsible and accountable for its agreed share of the bundle, and in consultation with local stakeholders will agree how best to deploy their resources and manage in year changes.

Child Birth

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of births took place  (a) at home,  (b) in a midwife-led maternity unit and  (c) in an obstetrician-led maternity unit in England in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by NHS trust.

Ivan Lewis: The NHS Maternity Statistics, England: 2004-05, copies of which are available in the Library for the last year for which we have figures, shows there were 584,100 hospital births and 13,700 home births. This equates to 97.7 per cent. hospital and 2.3 per cent. home births.
	Of the hospital births, 54 per cent. were in consultant wards, 40 per cent. were in joint consultant/midwife/general practitioner (GP) wards, 4 per cent. in midwife led wards and 1 per cent. in GP wards. We are not able to break down these figures by NHS trust.

Colorectal Cancer: Screening

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the suitability of using immunochemical tests for the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening programme.

Rosie Winterton: The National Health Service Bowel Cancer Screening programme is constantly alert to new methodologies and improved technologies in order to ensure the best quality of services. We have recently completed the second trial of a planned series into the appropriateness and effectiveness of using an immunological test. Data from this early work are currently being analysed and we expect to receive a report in summer 2007.

Departmental Research

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the cost was of government social research in her Department in each of the last five years; how many projects were completed in that period; and how many people are employed in working on such research;
	(2)  when she will answer the question 102595, tabled by the hon. Member for Forest of Dean on 21 November 2006, on social research.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Travel

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's expenditure on hospitality and entertainment was in  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) 2005-06.

Ivan Lewis: Expenditure on hospitality and entertaining arises in the context of promoting the Department's business objectives. The expenditure for the periods requested is as follows:
	1996-97: 105,192
	With the introduction of the Department's new finance system in April 2004, a number of financial codes were combined to include miscellaneous expenditure, which is not classifiable as hospitality or entertaining. Therefore we do not hold an accurate value for the period 2005-06.

Departments: Domestic Visits

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place in her Department to ensure that hon. Members are informed of a ministerial visit to their constituency.

Ivan Lewis: The diary secretaries of all departmental Ministers inform hon. Members of a ministerial visit to their constituency as soon as the visit programme is confirmed.

Departments: Ministers' Private Offices

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the staff cost is to her private office of keeping her official diary;
	(2)  what qualifications are required to work as a diary secretary in her private office.

Ivan Lewis: It would not be appropriate to identify the staff cost associated with keeping my official diary, as to do so would reveal an individual's personal salary information. Staff are recruited to my private office on the basis of their experience and expertise.

Departments: Official Visits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on  (a) travel and  (b) accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad by her Department in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: Information on the Department's expenditure on travel and subsistence in the United Kingdom and abroad in each year since 1997 is as follows.
	
		
			   
			   UK travel  UK subsistence  Overseas travel and subsistence  Tota l 
			 1997-98 6,230,714 870,832 575,458 7,677,004 
			 1998-99 5,421,862 852,272 590,089 6,864,223 
			 1999-2000 6,726,111 1,083,664 553,386 8,363,161 
			 2000-01 6,948,398 1,369,780 549,105 8,867,283 
			 2001-02 7,546,829 1,392,948 608,814 9,548,591 
			 2002-03 7,189,396 1,421,354 591,748 9,202,498 
			 2003-04 7,720,637 2,019,014 702,055 10,441,706 
		
	
	The Department's finance systems do not hold information in the format requested. The figures quoted for subsistence include accommodation costs which are not available separately.
	The information has not been collected in the requested detail since April 2004, when the Department introduced a new accounting system, as the Department is not required to report in such detail for the statutory accounts. Further analysis to provide the level of detail cannot be undertaken without incurring disproportionate costs.

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in (i) her Department and (ii) each agency of her Department in each year since 1997-98; how much is planned to be spent for 2007-08; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	The total cost of exits (i.e. compulsory redundancies and early retirements/severances) for the Department are:
	
		
			   Voluntary ()  Compulsory ()  Total ( million) 
			 2004-05 18,808,078 4,334,777 23.1 
			 2005-06 3,560,055 2,981,767 6.5 
			 2006-07 3,013,354 1,713,311 4.7 
		
	
	In 2007-08 a voluntary exit scheme on flexible terms was launched in the Department in March 2007. We estimate costs of approximately 10 million.
	For the period prior to the financial year 2004-05, data could only be established at disproportionate cost.
	The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency have had no voluntary staff exit schemes in the period 2000 to the present day. The cost of compulsory redundancies from the available information is 225,882 in 2003-04, 89,710 in 2004-05, 1,189,946 in 2005-06, 231,895 in 2006-07 and a forecast of 658,121 in 2007-08.
	The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has had no compulsory redundancies in the period 2003 to the present day. The cost of voluntary schemes has been 43,000 in 2003-04, 53,000 in 2004-05, 51,000 in 2005-06, 130,000 in 2006-07 and a nil forecast for 2007-08.

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in her Department participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	 For the period prior to the financial year 2005-06, data could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In 2005-06, eight people left the Department under compulsory terms and 25 voluntarily. In 2006-07, eight people left the Department under compulsory terms and 31 voluntarily.

Health Care Spending

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by NHS purchasers on  (a) beds and  (b) furniture in each year since 1997; and what percentage were sourced from (i) the UK, (ii) other EU countries and (iii) elsewhere.

Andy Burnham: The information is not collected in the requested format.
	National health service trusts are not asked to report their spend on beds centrally. Many beds (and mattresses) replaced within the NHS are done so on a planned rental, lease or managed service basis. Therefore the products being replaced are often the property of the supplier or finance provider, not necessarily the NHS.
	During the last two years of the previous national framework agreement for furniture, contract sales were running at 24 million and 27 million. These figures do not reflect trusts purchasing direct from suppliers and the NHS Supply Chain estimates that in April 2004 the value of furniture sales to the whole of the NHS was about 60 million per year.
	The current framework agreement started in September 2004 and yearly sales have been as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2004-05 31 
			 2005-06 36 
		
	
	The contract sales are all from United Kingdom suppliers on the framework agreement. These contracts are not mandatory, and therefore some NHS trusts buy from other sources. As the all trust data are not collected centrally, it is not possible to identify the sources of the suppliers where trusts have entered into purchases separate to the central framework agreement. These figures do not therefore cover the total NHS spend.
	In addition, data are available for the amount spent on furniture, office and computer equipment for each year for the period 2000-01 to 2004-05.
	
		
			   Amount () 
			 2000-01 314,328,734 
			 2001-02 250,906,128 
			 2002-03 307,380,747 
			 2003-04 272,513,664 
			 2004-05 (1)228,147,50 
			 (1) Foundation trust figures are not included, as it is not mandatory for them to submit the returns. 
		
	
	The data for 2005-06 are not yet available.

Health Providers

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she has taken to improve the quality of care delivered by  (a) health visitors,  (b) district nurses and  (c) child psychologists in the last five years;
	(2)  when she expects to reply to question No. 109061, tabled on 11 December 2006.

Ivan Lewis: Our vision as set out in the White Paper Our health, our care, our say, which we published in 2006, depends on strengthening health care outside hospital. The Government have four goals:
	to provide better preventive services;
	to give patients more choice;
	to tackle inequalities; and
	to improve care for people with long-term conditions.
	We have introduced a number of policies aimed at improving care for children and families and developing the role of health visitors. These include the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services and the chief nursing officer's review of the nursing contribution to vulnerable children. We are currently undertaking a review of the role of health visitors as part of Modernising Nursing Careers.
	District nurses have a key role to play in enabling more care to be delivered outside of hospital. Modernising Nursing Careers, launched by the Secretary of State last September, pays special attention to nurses caring for people in their own homes, so they can help deliver White Paper goals. Also, many district nurses have received additional training via the cancer networks so they can maximise their input to those with life-threatening, palliative or end of life needs.
	Essence of Care, published in 2001 and updated in 2003 and 2006, is a national system of benchmarking the quality of patient care across a range of fundamental dimensions. It is widely used across the national health service, and enables district nurses and others to assess the care they offer patients against a set of good practice indicators. Local action plans to improve services are designed and implemented, some of which, like the red tray scheme for patients at risk of poor nutrition, have been adopted nationwide.
	Child psychologists are playing an increasing role in the services provided by a comprehensive child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). Since 2003 the number of child psychologists, both clinical and educational, working in CAMHS teams has increased by 33 per cent. They have a particularly important role in developing mental health services for young people who also have a learning disability.

Healthcare Commission: Inspections

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms exist to promote consistency in the decisions of Healthcare Commission inspectors in different areas; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 16 April 2007
	 The Healthcare Commission has confirmed that national consistency in its assessments is a priority and that there are quality assurance and control systems in place to ensure that consistency is maximised.
	The Commission has said that all its assessment managers, who carry out inspections, receive national training covering the overall principles of assessment, guidance on acquiring, analysing, and evaluating evidence, making judgments, and summarising assessments in a standardised report. Assessment managers carry out their inspections using a national assessment framework which provides a clear basis for assessing each of the core standards set out in Standards for Better Health (Department of Health 2004) and the National Minimum Standards for Independent Health Care issued under the Care Standards Act 2000.
	The Commission has added that, in the case of the national health service, a national panel considers the assessments made against each standard across the country: assessment managers and their line managers may be required to review assessments in the light of local or national comparisons.

Heart Diseases: Standards

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how her Department plans to meet cardiac rehabilitation standards as set out in the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease;
	(2)  how much was spent on cardiac rehabilitation services in each primary care trust area in each of the last five years; and how much is expected to be spent in each area in 2007-08;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the likely effects for  (a) coronary heart disease patients,  (b) health inequalities and  (c) primary care trust spending on coronary heart disease of achieving the standards set out in the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease relating to cardiac rehabilitation services.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	The provision of cardiac rehabilitation services is a matter for the local national health service, working in partnership with stakeholders and the local community. It is for NHS organisations to plan and develop services based on their specific local knowledge and expertise. Data are not collected centrally regarding primary care trust spending on cardiac rehabilitation.
	A new National Cardiac Rehabilitation Audit is being developed across England, jointly sponsored by the British Heart Foundation and the Healthcare Commission. This will provide stronger evidence on effectiveness and encourage local areas to appraise and improve their provision of cardiac rehabilitation.

Heart Diseases: Standards

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards targets set out in the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	The National Service Framework (NSF) for Coronary Heart Disease published in March 2000 sets a 10-year framework for action to prevent disease, tackle inequalities, save more lives, and improve the quality of life for people with heart disease.
	The implementation of this NSF has led to a reduction of premature mortality, improved diagnostic and treatment facilities, faster care and better prevention of heart disease.
	This progress is set out in detail in the recent report, Shaping the future, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Learning Disability

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions  (a) she,  (b) Ministers in her Department and  (c) officials have had with Mencap on the quality of treatment of people with learning disabilities in NHS hospitals; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Secretary of State has met with the chief executive of Mencap and the families of those people who were mentioned in Mencap's report, published on 12 March 2007.
	Officials have had numerous discussions with Mencap. The Secretary of State will be holding an independent inquiry to look into the cases highlighted by Mencap and to review the quality of treatment of people with learning disabilities in national health service hospitals.

Hospitals: Telephones

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Department will place in the Library a copy of its formal response to the letter of 19 January 2006 from the Office of Communications on patient power systems.

Andy Burnham: The Department's formal response to the Office of Communications' letter of 19 January 2006 regarding the patient power systems has been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Uniforms

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 21 February 2007,  Official Report, column 832W, on uniforms, what the expected publication date is for  (a) the commissioned literature review on the microbiological and social importance of uniforms in relation to hospital acquired infections,  (b) the scientific study of the effect of water temperature on the removal of micro-organisms during laundering and  (c) draft information on professional appearance, patient confidence and healthcare associated infections.

Ivan Lewis: Both the literature review and the commissioned research are being prepared for publication in scientific journals, and therefore the date of their publication is not yet known.
	Summary information on professional appearance, patient confidence and healthcare associated infections will appear on the Department's website, as part of a package of evidence and good practice that will help trusts establish their own procedures. We expect this to be within the next two months.
	The information on the website will contain the broad conclusions from the literature review and commissioned research, to get this information to the NHS in the shortest time possible.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to publish the first sets of data showing referral-to-treatment waiting times for  (a) admitted and  (b) non-admitted patients.

Andy Burnham: I refer the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire to the written answer I gave him on 16 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1088W.

Junior Doctors

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has any plans to provide more careers guidance for junior doctors who may have to change specialties as a result of the recent training reform.

Rosie Winterton: Yes. We have established a review group led by Professor Neil Douglas, Vice-Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, to address the issues and concerns raised as a result of the modernising medical careers recruitment process this year. The review group has asked us to undertake work to develop a support package for doctors who may be displaced because they have not obtained a training post in the specialty they wanted.
	We are working with the review group, NHS employers, postgraduate deaneries and local employers to develop such a package.

Maternity Services

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) maternity units and  (b) maternity beds there are in each strategic health authority.

Ivan Lewis: The breakdown by strategic health authority on the number of maternity units and the number of maternity beds is shown in the following tables. Maternity units referred to are either consultant led or midwife led units. This information has been derived from a number of sources and covers 2004-05 and 2005-06. Beds are shown by the average daily number available averaged over the course of the year. This is for 2005-06.
	
		
			  SHA  Consultant unit  Maternity led unit  Total 
			 East Midlands 11 4 15 
			 East of England 19 9 28 
			 London 30 13 43 
			 North East 12 6 18 
			 North West 28 8 36 
			 South Central 11 16 27 
			 South East Coast 16 6 22 
			 South West 16 21 37 
			 West Midlands 19 10 29 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 19 8 27 
			 Total 181 101 282 
		
	
	
		
			  Organisation ID  Name  Maternity beds (available) 
			  England 8,883 
			
			 Q30 North East 474 
			 Q31 North West 1,347 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and The  Humber 935 
			 Q33 East Midlands 667 
			 Q34 West Midlands 951 
			 Q35 East of England 860 
			 Q36 London 1,559 
			 Q37 South East Coast 613 
			 Q38 South Central 631 
			 Q39 South West 848

Medicine: Overseas Students

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider allowing all non-European economic area medical students who started their studies when the previous immigration rules were in place to complete their studies.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 28 March 2007
	The studies of undergraduate medical students were not affected by the changes to the immigration rules.

Medicine: Overseas Students

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what support is being provided to non-European economic area medical students to assist them to make alternative arrangements for their postgraduate study following changes to the immigration rules;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of non-European economic area medical students who started studying before the new immigration rules for postgraduate training were introduced and who, under the new rules, will be unable to complete their training in the UK.

Rosie Winterton: A concession has been granted to non-European economic area (EEA) undergraduate medical students who will have the opportunity to complete a two year postgraduate foundation programme without a work permit. Once the foundation course has been completed doctors will need to meet the normal requirements of the immigration rules.
	Medical schools are able to admit up to 7.5 per cent. of their students from outside the EEA.

Medicine: Students

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which body is responsible for training doctors and the development of the curriculum for medical education.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	In England the strategic health authorities through their postgraduate deaneries are responsible for managing and organising postgraduate training. The postgraduate curricula are developed by the medical Royal Colleges and their faculties. The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board is responsible for approving the curricula submitted by the medical Royal Colleges and also for the approval and quality assurance of the programmes organised by the postgraduate deaneries.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to reply to the letter of 14 February 2007 from the hon. Member for Billericay on the big lottery fund and the Living With Cancer programme.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	I replied to the hon. Member on 29 March 2007.

Members: Correspondence

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Minister with responsibility for Health Services, the hon. Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton) will respond to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham's letter of 8 March on the Mental Health Bill and implications for its Second Reading due on 16 April.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 29 March 2007.

Mental Health Services: Children

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to reduce the number of young people waiting over 26 weeks to see child and adolescent mental health services staff.

Ivan Lewis: In the three years to 31 March 2006 the Department invested over 300 million to improve and expand child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). The number of specialist CAMHS staff increased by 35 per cent. between 2002 and 2005. We have also established the National CAMHS Support Service to provide commissioners and providers of CAMHS with expert advice on best practice.
	The number of children and adolescents waiting to be seen for over 26 weeks by specialist non-residential CAMHS teams fell from 6,100 in 2004 to 4,000 in 2005, the latest year for which figures are available.

Mental Health Services: Essex

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on what basis the unit costs set out in table 1, page 11 of the report of the Public Consultation Review of Mental Health Employment Services across South Essex submitted to the South West Essex Primary Care Trust were calculated; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the basis was for the conclusion of the report of the Public Consultation Review of Mental Health Employment Services across South Essex submitted to the South West Essex Primary Care Trust that the employment services, with the exception of the SEPT vocational unit, were not achieving satisfactory outcomes in relation to the service level agreement with the three Rethink employment services in South Essex; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	 The information requested is not held centrally and can instead be obtained direct from the South West Essex Primary Care Trust.

Mental Health Services: Essex

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what occasions Mark Tebbs, the Mental Health Commissioner for South West Essex Primary Care Trust, visited the service trainees at Rethink Pet Supplies in Basildon prior to the publication of his report; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	 The NHS East of England Strategic Health Authority reports that the South West Essex Primary Care Trust (PCT) has apologised to Rethink Pet Supplies for not visiting them before the initial review stage began. However, the PCT has since visited the company on 22 March to discuss the complaints of service users.

Midwives: Insurance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the availability of personal indemnity insurance for independent midwives; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 April 2007
	Professional indemnity insurance is currently not available for independent midwives. We understand that this is because they practise in a specialty associated with the highest level of awards arising from litigation. We have been working with the Independent Midwives Association and other independent midwives since 2004 to provide some solutions and suggested alternatives. This process is continuing.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the occasions since she has held her present office when she has used  (a) rail services,  (b) the London Underground,  (c) tram or light railway services and  (d) buses in connection with her ministerial duties.

Ivan Lewis: The Secretary of State regularly uses rail services in connection with her ministerial duties. Since taking up her post as the Secretary of State for Health, she has used rail services to travel to the following locations in her ministerial capacity.
	 2005
	26 MayHuntingdon
	15 JuneBrussels
	17 JuneBirmingham
	21 JuneWakefield
	28 JuneManchester
	13 JulyBrussels
	19 OctoberBirmingham
	29 OctoberBirmingham
	11 NovemberHarrogate
	8 DecemberBrussels
	 2006
	4 JanuaryChatham
	5 JanuaryBirmingham
	14 JanuaryNottingham
	10 FebruaryBirmingham
	28 FebruaryNottingham
	14 MarchBirmingham
	24 MarchWolverhampton and Manchester
	3 AprilManchester and Stoke
	24 AprilNewcastle
	26 AprilBournemouth
	27 AprilBirmingham
	12 MayBristol
	12 JuneYork
	16 JuneBirmingham
	27 JuneReading
	11 JulyMilton Keynes
	14 JulyBrighton
	25 JulyBath
	6 SeptemberBedford
	7 SeptemberDarlington
	12 SeptemberBrighton
	4 OctoberBedford
	18 OctoberYork
	20 OctoberBrighton
	24 NovemberCoventry
	12 DecemberBirmingham
	 2007
	19 JanuaryLiverpool
	9 MarchDurham
	22 MarchDerby

NHS: Drugs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1692W, on NHS: drugs, whether the permissibility of accepting hospitality at meetings under the rules includes transport to such meetings  (a) in the UK and  (b) overseas.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 March 2007
	Under the Medicines (Advertising) Regulations 1994, hospitality provided to health professionals by the pharmaceutical industry at scientific or promotional meetings may include the payment of travelling or accommodation expenses. This must be strictly limited to the main purpose of the meeting or event.
	The self-regulatory Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry code of practice for the pharmaceutical industry provides further guidance on the appropriate level of hospitality to be offered. This includes a restriction to economy air travel for delegates sponsored to attend meetings.

NHS: Finance

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the savings to  (a) the University hospitals of Morecambe Bay trust and  (b) the Cumbria primary care trust in the financial year 2007-08 will be as a result of the announcement that trusts in deficit will not be fined in addition to being required to pay back the deficit.

Rosie Winterton: The income deduction of 6,357,000 applied to the University hospitals of Morecambe Bay in 2006-07 as a result of overspending in 2005-06 will be reversed. At quarter three the trust was forecasting a deficit of 6,357,000; the reversal of the income deduction means the revised forecast is for breakeven.
	In 2007-08 national health service trusts will not be subject to income deductions for overspending in 2006-07.
	The changes to the resource accounting and budgeting regime apply to NHS trusts only. This is in line with the recommendations in the Audit Commission Review of the NHS Financial Management and Accounting Regime published in July 2006.

NHS: Pay

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average pay awarded to  (a) GPs,  (b) consultants and  (c) nurses was in each of the last 10 years; and what the percentage increase was over the previous year in each case in each year.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 27 March 2007
	Tables one, two and three show general practitioners (GPs) and table four shows consultants and nurses.
	Available information on GP pay is as follows:
	
		
			  Table one: Average GP net income (national health service only), Great Britain - intended average net remuneration/income 
			   Amount ()  Percentage increase over previous year 
			 1997-98 46,031 3.5 
			 1998-99 48,037 4.4 
			 1999-2000 52,606 9.5 
			 2000-01 54,219 3.1 
			 2001-02 56,510 4.2 
			 2002-03 61,618 9.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Table two: Estimated average GP net income (NHS only), Great Britain 
			   Amount () 
			 2003-04 72,752 
		
	
	
		
			  Table three: Estimated average GP net income (all sources), United Kingdom 
			   Amount () 
			 2004-05 100,000 
			 2005-06 (1) 
			 2006-07 (1) 
			 (1 )Not yet available. 
		
	
	The concept of intended average net remuneration (IANR) disappeared with the introduction of the new general medical services contract in 2003-04. Figures for future years, including the 2003-04 and 2004-05 estimates, are not comparable with IANR figures so no percentage increases for those years are shown. Since 2004-05 information on GP income is derived from the HM Revenue and Customs tax self-assessment database which relates to income from all sources, NHS and private. Information for 2005-06 will not be available until late 2007.
	
		
			  Table four: Shows information for consultants and nurses. 
			   Average pay for consultants ()  Percentage increase for consultants (average earnings per fte)  Average pay for nurses ()  Percentage increase for nurses (average earnings per fte) 
			 1997-98 65,799 1.0 20,760 -8.5 
			 1998-99 69,934 6.3 20,972 1.0 
			 1999-2000 74,007 5.8 22,280 6.2 
			 2000-01 80,684 9.0 23,371 4.9 
			 2001-02 86,477 7.2 24,673 5.6 
			 2002-03 89,846 3.9 25,613 3.8 
			 2003-04 103,246 14.9 26,236 2.4 
			 2004-05 109,728 6.3 27,836 6.1 
			 2005-06 112,828 2.8 29,010 4.2 
			 2006-07 117,634 4.3 30,507 5.2 
			 2007-08 112,456 4.1 31,826 4.3 
			  Notes: Figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are estimated projections and are subject to change.

NHS: Private Finance Initiative

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her Department's press release of 27 February 2007, Mapping the success of NHS building schemes since 1997, when she expects each of the private finance initiative schemes mentioned in the press release to reach financial close.

Andy Burnham: The table gives the dates that financial close is planned for each of the schemes mentioned in the press release of 27 February 2007, Mapping the success of national health service building schemes since 1997.
	
		
			   Date 
			 Mid Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust Quarter 2 2007 
			 North Middlesex, University Hospital NHS Trust Quarter 3 2007 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust Quarter 3 2007 
			 Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust Quarter 3 2007 
			 Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust Quarter 3 2007 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Quarter 1 2008 
			 North Bristol/South Gloucestershire primary care trusts Quarter 4 2008

Primary Care Trusts

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  to whom primary care trusts are accountable; and which areas of their operation they are required to account for;
	(2)  what the statutory duties are of primary care trusts; and what other duties her Department expects them to perform.

Andy Burnham: Under the National Health Service Act 2006, schedule 3, paragraph 20, each primary care trust (PCT) must prepare an annual report on its activities during the previous financial year. It must send a copy of the report to each strategic health authority (SHA) whose area includes any part of the PCT's area. It must also send a copy of the report to the Secretary of State. The report must give details of the measures the PCT has taken to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness in using its resources for the exercise of its functions.
	In addition, if any such SHA, or the Secretary of State, requires other reports or information, the PCT must prepare and send such reports or information to the SHA or the Secretary of State as the case may be.
	SHAs have certain detailed functions, under the National Health Service (Functions of Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and Administration Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2002, to support and manage the performance of PCTs. The Secretary of State may give directions to any SHA or PCT about its exercise of any functions (under section 8 of the National Health Service Act 2006), and a SHA may give directions to a PCT about its exercise of any function (under section 20 of the Act).
	Under schedule 15 of the Act, PCTs must prepare annual accounts in respect of each financial year and send them to the Secretary of State and to any SHA whose area includes any part of the PCT's area. The Secretary of State must prepare summarised accounts relating to PCTs and send them to the Comptroller and Auditor General, who must lay copies of the accounts and his report on them before both Houses of Parliament.
	Further information is published on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4134649
	A copy has been placed in the Library.

Private Hospital Treatments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients requiring  (a) heart transplants and  (b) hip replacement surgery have been referred to private hospitals for their treatment in the last five years; and how many were treated in NHS hospitals.

Andy Burnham: The following table contains the number of procedures for heart transplants and hip replacements for the period 2000 to 2005.
	
		
			   Hip replacements  Heart transplants 
			 2005-06 88,790 168 
			 2004-05 86,712 203 
			 2003-04 84,974 187 
			 2002-03 80,654 265 
			 2001-02 75,039 268 
			 2000-01 73,065 275 
			  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	It is not possible to identify from HES data whether these procedures took place in an NHS hospital or a private hospital.

Prostate Cancer

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to reduce the inequality in experience reported by men with prostate cancer compared to that reported by patients with other cancers.

Rosie Winterton: Following publication of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) Improving Outcomes in Urological Cancer guidance, strategic health authorities (SHAs) and Cancer Networks submitted action plans to the both the cancer action team and the Department's planning and performance review team in June 2004, which detailed agreed milestones for investment and implementation of the improving outcomes in urological cancer guidance produced by NICE.
	The cancer action team has assessed these plans to determine the extent to which the guidance will be implemented between 2005 and December 2007, and feedback was given to networks and SHAs. SHAs are now monitoring key milestones identified in the action plans every six months and then reporting back to the Department on their progress.
	This action, together with the National Cancer Peer Review Programme, will enable us to provide a comparative measure of progress on overall implementation of the guidance.
	Additionally, at the start of April the cancer action team appointed an Associate Director for Patient Experience, whose responsibilities include improving the patient experience of prostate cancer patients.

Prostate Cancer

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical nurse specialists are working with prostate cancer patients in England; and what her assessment is of the adequacy of these numbers.

Rosie Winterton: Data on the number of clinical nurse specialists are not collected centrally. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has identified clinical nurse specialists as core members of the urology multidisciplinary team in their Improving Outcomes in Urological Cancers guidance issued in 2002. It is for cancer networks to work in partnership with strategic health authorities, national health service trusts and postgraduate deaneries to put in place a sustainable process to assess, plan and review their work force needs and the education and training of all staff linked to local and national priorities for cancer, including the implementation of NICE improving outcomes guidance.

Written Questions

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will answer question 127973, on the End Waiting, change lives initiative, tabled on 14 March by the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Ivan Lewis: A reply was given to the hon. Member on 17 April 2007.

Written Questions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Forest of Dean on  (a) 21 November 2006, reference 102595, on social research, and  (b) 13 December 2006, reference 110223, requesting an answer to that question.

Ivan Lewis: An answer has been given today.

ZooBiotic

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ministerial visits have taken place to ZooBiotic in Bridgend in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: There have been no ministerial visits to ZooBiotic in Bridgend in the last 12 months.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) arrested and  (b) prosecuted for using their mobile phones while driving since the legislation banning their use while driving was introduced.

Vernon Coaker: Information requested on arrests for summary motoring offences of 'use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving' is not collected centrally.
	Available information taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, from 2003 to 2004 (latest available) is provided in the table. As the majority of 'use of hand-held mobile phone while driving' offences are dealt with by the issue of a fixed penalty notice, these are also included.
	2005 data will be available later this year.
	
		
			  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  and total court proceedings for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving( 2) , England and Wales, 2003-04 
			  2003  2004 
			  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  Total court proceedings( 3)  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  Total court proceedings( 3) 
			 1,888 1 73,976 789 
			 (1) Fixed penalty notices paid where there is no further action. (2) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1966, Regulations 110 (1), 110 (2 and 110 (3), (Offence introduced 1 December 2003). (3) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally Issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.  Notes: 1. It Is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is under way to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system being implemented by the Department for Constitutional Affairs reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Female Genital Mutilation

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of UK citizens who were subjected to female genital mutilation in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not collected centrally. The Department has commissioned a study into the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM), which will provide information on the likely incidence of FGM in England and Wales. This study is currently being finalised.

National Crime Squad

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, column 458W, on the National Crime Squad, what estimate he has made of the level of  (a) Class A drug trafficking,  (b) organised immigration crime and  (c) hi-tech crime; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The UK Threat Assessment (UKTA), available on the Serious Organised Crime Agency website, estimates that between 60 to 80 tonnes of heroin and cocaine are trafficked into the UK each year. The UK consumption of ecstasy is estimated at between 500,000 and 2 million tablets per week.
	The UKTA describes the modus operandi of people smugglers and human traffickers, as well as offering a description of the nature of the problem but makes no quantitative assessment of the threat.
	Hi-tech crime is covered in the chapter of the UKTA dealing with non-fiscal fraud. The UKTA recognises that the scale of non-fiscal fraud is difficult to estimate accurately as not all frauds are discovered and not all discovered frauds are reported.

National Crime Squad

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, column 458W, on the National Crime Squad, how much funding was provided to each of the four threat areas in each year since 1998.

Vernon Coaker: Accounting within the National Crime Squad (NCS) was based on the nature of expenditure not the activity to which that expenditure related, therefore, it has not been possible to give details of the funding NCS provided to each of the main threats.

Offensive Weapons

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of selling a crossbow to a person aged under 18 in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: It is an offence under the Crossbows Act 1987 to sell or hire a crossbow or part of a crossbow to person under the age of 17.
	Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of persons found guilty at all courts for this offence in England and Wales from 2001-2005, show that there were no convictions for this offence during those years.
	Information for 2006 will be available in the autumn.

Prisons: Genetics

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how prisoners without a DNA profile on the National DNA database were identified for the purposes of the DNA Prisoner Sampling Exercise in 2003.

John Reid: Data on all the then 72,000 prisoners were taken from the Prison Service Inmate Information System. This was then compared with data held on the Police National Computer and the National DNA Database about these individuals to see whether a DNA sample had already been taken from them. Work was also done comparing Department of Health records with data on PNC and NDNAD, to identify patients held in secure mental health units who had not had DNA samples taken.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was provided to the  (a) intelligence directorate,  (b) enforcement directorate,  (c) intervention directorate and  (d) corporate services directorate of the Serious Organised Crime Agency for the financial year 2006-07; and what funding projections he has made for each directorate for the financial year 2007-08.

Vernon Coaker: For the financial year 2006-07 the Home Office delegated a budget to SOCA of 427million. SOCA's 2006-07 Annual Plan, published in March 2006, set out how SOCA intended to exercise its functions during the 2006-07 financial year.
	The internal allocation of resources between directorates is a matter for the SOCA Board.
	For the 2007-08 financial year the Home Secretary will approve SOCA's overall funding. The final decision on this is expected shortly but the assumption is that funding will be broadly level in real terms with that of 2006-07; however, the internal allocation between directorates will again be a matter for the SOCA Board.
	SOCA's 2007-08 Annual Plan was published on 30 March 2007. It sets out how SOCA will exercise its functions in this financial year. The aim is to apportion operational effort broadly as follows against the main threat sectors:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 Drugs trafficking, primarily Class A, 40 
			 Organised immigration crime 25 
			 Individual and private sector fraud 10 
			 Other organised crime 15 
		
	
	In addition, broadly 10 per cent. of operational effort should be used in support of law enforcement partners, when their objectives would not otherwise be SOCA priorities.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Manpower

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many financial investigators were employed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in the last year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Many of SOCA's operational officers will have some involvement in financial investigations, because of SOCA's emphasis on attacking criminal assets.
	SOCA came into existence on one April 2006 and it currently employs 209 Financial Investigators, as authorised by the Director of the Assets Recovery Agency, who are undertaking a number of roles.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Digital Broadcasting

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission which digital television channels are available to hon. Members' offices on the House of Commons estate; and how much was spent on  (a) all channels and  (b) Sky Sports in each of the last three years.

Nick Harvey: No digital television channels are available directly in Members' offices at present as they are currently converted to analogue in order to be broadcast with other channels over the annunciator system. In August 2006, however, a working group was set up to investigate options for replacing the current analogue system. A successful trial was carried out in March 2007 which proved that digital channels can be broadcast over the existing annunciator infrastructure and a Project Board will now take these options forward before the 2012 analogue switch-off date.
	The House has spent nothing on Sky Sports or any other channel in the last three years as they are provided under a free licence.
	The channels currently available are as follows:
	
		
			  Programme  Channel 
			 1 BBC 1 
			 2 BBC 2 
			 3 ITV 
			 4 Channel 4 
			 5 Channel 5 
			 6 HOC Chamber 
			 7 HOC Annunciator 
			 8 Lord's Chamber 
			 9 HOL Annunciator 
			 10 Sky News 
			 11 CNN 
			 12 Sky Sports 1 
			 13 Sky Sports 2 
			 14 Radio 4 
			 15 News 24 
			 16 Westminster Hall 
			 17 BBC Parliament 
			 18 Sky Sports 3 
			 19 BBC World 
			 20 Radio 3 
			 21 Radio 5 Live 
			 22 S4C2 Welsh Assembly 
			 23 Moses RoomWebcast 
			 24 Euronews

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in his Department participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Since 1997, DFID has had no involuntary redundancies, but there have been voluntary early departures as set out in the following table. Selection for a new round of voluntary early departures in the 2007-08 financial year is currently under way and the number of staff accepting early departure offers should be finalised by the end of April.
	
		
			  Year  Total number of approved voluntary early departures 
			 1997-98 3 
			 1998-99 4 
			 1999-2000 4 
			 2000-01 2 
			 2001-02 9 
			 2002-03 24 
			 2003-04 9 
			 2004-05 11 
			 2005-06 35 
			 2006-07 32

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in his Department who participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98 were paid between (i) 0 to 25,000, (ii) 25,001 to 50,000, (iii) 50,001 to 75,000, (iv) 75,001 to 100,000 and (v) over 100,000; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Since 1997, DFID has had no involuntary redundancies, but there have been voluntary early departures. The following table sets out the number of early departures approved in each year since 1997-98. The totals listed against each year and financial band reflect the total cost of each departure to DFID recorded against the year in which the departure was approved. The total cost, in some cases, is spread over a number of years as annual compensation payments, where appropriate, are paid to staff until they qualify for their normal pension at age 60.
	
		
			   Total number of approved voluntary early departures  0-25,000  25,001-50,000  50,001-75,000  75,001-100,000  Over 100,000 
			 1997-98 3  1 2   
			 1998-99 4  1   3 
			 1999-2000 4 1  1  2 
			 2000-01 2 2 
			 2001-02 9 1  1 2 5 
			 2002-03 24 1 4 6 6 7 
			 2003-04 9 1 1 1 4 2 
			 2004-05 11 2 2 0 3 4 
			 2005-06 35 6 9 4 5 11 
			 2006-07 32 7 8 4 3 10

Uganda

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department is making a contribution to the UN Consolidated Appeals Process for Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has committed 18.6 million towards the UN Consolidated Appeal for Uganda this year. The World Food Programme will receive 7 million for emergency food aid. UNICEF will receive 7.4 million to improve water and sanitation provision, provide emergency household items when required and to support child protection services. 4.2 million will be provided to a joint UN health programme in the north and north-east.
	Of the 18.6 million committed we have so far disbursed 8.4 million. The remainder will be released in instalments over the next six months.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Community Relations

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) walls and  (b) locked gates are still in position dividing communities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: There are 46 walls or fences and 11 gates of this kind in position in Northern Ireland. The Government are committed to removing barriers between communities. These barriers are only used reluctantly and as a last resort where necessary to protect life and property.

Employment: Young People

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils in Northern Ireland who left school in 2006  (a) have secured full-time employment,  (b) have secured part-time employment,  (c) are on a training scheme and  (d) are unemployed.

Maria Eagle: The School Leavers' Survey collects data on the qualifications and main destinations of school leavers leaving mainstream education. Destination data are collected by the careers advisors in each of the post primary schools. It should be noted that the School Leavers' Survey does not collect information on part-time employment. Data for the 2005-06 academic year will not be available until the end of May. Therefore the following data relate to the 2004-05 academic year.
	Of the 25,298 pupils leaving school in 2004-05:
	 (a) 2,538 entered employment
	 (b) Part-time employment data not collected separately
	 (c) 4,443 entered training(1)
	 (d) 1,122 left school and were unemployed
	In addition 9,633 entered institutions of higher education, 6,953 entered institutions of further education and 609 had their destination recorded as unknown.
	(l) Numbers entering training include those entering Jobskills programme, operated by the Department for Employment and Learning.

Equal Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the pay gap between men and women in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The median hourly earnings, excluding overtime, for females employed on a full-time basis at April 2006 in Northern Ireland was estimated to be 9.98 compared to 10.00 for males. Female hourly earnings at April 2006 were 99.8 per cent. of malesan improvement in the position at April 2005 when they were 94.7 per cent. of male hourly earnings.

Housing: Low Incomes

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the Semple Report on Affordable Housing; and what funding has been allocated for its implementation.

David Hanson: Sir John Semple made a series of practical suggestions across a range of policy areas in his final report which was received by the Department for Social Development on 4 April 2007. Housing markets are extremely complex and are influenced by a range of local, national and global social and economic factors. The report has shown that concerted action across organisational boundaries is necessary to improve the delivery of affordable housing across tenures.
	The Government are currently considering its response to the report and as I would want the newly appointed Minister to have an input into the response, it will not be until after 8 May devolution restoration that a response will be issued.

Social Rented Housing

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new houses were constructed by housing associations in each district council area in Northern Ireland between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2007.

David Hanson: During this seven year period, housing association house completions were as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Antrim 79 
			 Ards 142 
			 Armagh 75 
			 Ballymena 127 
			 Ballymoney 63 
			 Banbridge 68 
			 Belfast 4,111 
			 Carrick 225 
			 Castlereagh 148 
			 Coleraine 192 
			 Cookstown 13 
			 Craigavon 137 
			 Derry 1,234 
			 Down 293 
			 Dungannon 46 
			 Fermanagh 236 
			 Larne 30 
			 Limavady 127 
			 Lisburn 968 
			 Magherafelt 22 
			 Moyle 2 
			 Newry/Mourne 274 
			 Newtownabbey 116 
			 North Down 241 
			 Omagh 131 
			 Strabane 241

South Eastern Education and Library Board

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that the financial deficit generated by the South Eastern Education and Library Board is written off prior to the formation of the Education and Skills Authority.

Maria Eagle: The financial deficit generated by the South Eastern Education and Library Board will not be written off. The make up of the deficit in that Board is such that some of its schools are owed very significant sums of money and there can be no question of that money not being available to schools as and when they need it. The new Education and Skills Authority will therefore inherit that liability, along with the other assets and liabilities that will transfer from all predecessor bodies. It will have to plan its finances in a way that makes sure that schools in the SEELB area have access to the surpluses that they have accumulated and that schools in deficit continue to take action in line with their agreed recovery plans.

South Eastern Education and Library Board: Public Appointments

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monies have been paid to the four Commissioners who were appointed to the South Eastern Education and Library Board in June 2006.

Maria Eagle: The chief executive of the South Eastern education and Library Board has advised me that, up to and including 28 February 2007, the four Commissioners who were appointed on 6 July 2006 have been paid a total of 66,742.60. Costs for March 2007 are not yet available.

Suicide

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he  (a) is taking and  (b) is planning in relation to combating suicide in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Suicide Prevention Strategy, 'Protect LifeA Shared Vision', was published on 30 October 2006, and its primary aim is to reduce the levels of suicide and self-harm in Northern Ireland. The strategy takes both a general and targeted approach. Recurrent funding of 1.9 million was allocated for the implementation of the strategy in 2006-07, with 3 million identified for 2007-08 onwards. A families forum, which includes members of families directly affected by suicide, plays a crucial role in helping to inform and direct the strategy.
	To date a number of pilot schemes and initiatives have been established, including:
	a 24/7 suicide prevention telephone helpline pilot for north and west Belfast, which specifically targets young people;
	a pilot mentoring scheme for people who self-harm in the Western Health and Social Services Board area;
	the development, and roll-out, of a GP depression awareness training programme;
	the launch of a public information campaign, designed to de-stigmatise mental health, and promote awareness and understanding of issues relating to suicide and self-harm; and
	a literature review of the effects of the troubles on the mental health and wellbeing of the population of Northern Ireland.
	Funding has also been allocated to health and social services boards to support the development of community-based initiatives that will assist in a reduction of suicide and self-harm.
	The strategy will also draw on the experiences of our counterparts across the UK and Ireland, and a Joint Five Nations Forum has been established to share best practice. An All-Island Action Plan has also been developed in conjunction with the National Office of Suicide Prevention in the Republic of Ireland.
	Other projects currently under consideration include:
	additional research into the underlying causes of suicide in north and west Belfast and Banbridge;
	the development of the next phase of the public information campaign;
	the establishment of an advisory group to look at ways of improving the existing Northern Ireland suicide recording mechanisms;
	an audit and evaluation of suicide related training programmes currently available in Northern Ireland;
	the piloting of a self-harm registry in the Western Health and Social Services Board area; and
	the development of an All-Island media watch facility.

Ulster Scots Language: Education

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure equality of funding in Northern Ireland between the  (a) Ulster Scots language and culture and  (b) Gaelic language and culture; and what impact those steps have had on funding levels.

Maria Eagle: The two agencies of the Language Implementation Body are funded to carry out their functions as defined in the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.
	The budgets for the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Irish Language Agency, Foras na Gaeilge, are determined in accordance with their agreed annual business plans.
	Following on from the commitment made by the Government in respect of Ulster-Scots in the St. Andrews Agreement, the Government and the Irish Government have agreed that additional resources of 0.5 million will be made available to the Ulster-Scots Agency in 2007-08, 0.75 million in 2008-09 and 1.0 million in 2009-10. The latter two years' additional funding is subject to the outcome of the comprehensive spending review in Northern Ireland.

PRIME MINISTER

Armed Forces: Mass Media

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister whether the decision by the Ministry of Defence to allow serving military personnel to sell their stories to the media was  (a) made known to and  (b) authorised by him prior to being made public.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. member to the statement made by my right. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Des Browne) on 16 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 23-26.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister what measures are in place to limit the amount of money spent on alcohol for hospitality purposes by his Office.

Tony Blair: For accounting purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister, for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for North-West Durham (Hilary Armstrong), today.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Bankruptcy: Legislation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the Enterprise Act 2002 on bankrupt individuals in the last four months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In the last four months, The Insolvency Service has continued collating information as part of its evaluation of the Enterprise Act 2002. This evaluation attempts to comprehensively assess whether, to what extent and how the provisions of the Act meets its policy objectives, and will cover the impact of the Enterprise Act 2002 on bankrupts. Full details of the evaluation work being undertaken are set out in the evaluation planning papers which are available on The Insolvency Service's website
	http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/insolvencyprofessionandlegislation/legislation/Reform.htm.
	The Insolvency Service is due to complete the evaluation work in summer 2007, with a final evaluation report being published in autumn 2007.

Energy Supply: Meters

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if he will meet the three energy suppliers who continue to back-charge token meter consumers and urge them to end the practice;
	(2)  whether the risks of debt associated with the late recalibration of electricity token meter recalibration has been clearly communicated to those token meter users who remain at risk of such debt by those suppliers who continue to back-charge following price rise announcements; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is responsible for regulating gas and electricity supply, including matters related to prepayment meters. My noble friend, the Minister for Energy has no plans to meet with the energy suppliers on this issue. I welcome Ofgem's commitment to working with suppliers to improve their performance in recalibrating and replacing certain prepayment meters. My Department continues to monitor progress.
	Ofgem recently published an update in a letter of 21 March from its managing director of corporate affairs. This letter, which included details of the progress on customer communication made by Scottish Power, Powergen and npower, is available from Ofgem's website at:
	www.ofgem.gov.uk

Post Offices: Closures

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make a statement on the outcome of the Post Office closure consultation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government's consultation on the future of the Post Office network attracted over 2,500 responses. We are currently considering these responses with the aim of announcing our decisions in May.

Post Offices: Urban Areas

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the proportion of people in urban areas who use post offices regularly.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook the managing director has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Sustainable Development

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been  (a) allocated for grants and  (b) disbursed by the Clearskies Initiative in each month since the scheme began.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 16 April 2007
	 The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			  Clear Skies ProgrammeHousehold stream 
			   
			  Month  Allocated  Disbursed 
			  2003   
			 April 18,800 500 
			 May 71,000 6,000 
			 June 53,700 23,500 
			 July 86,700 15,500 
			 August 89,000 25,500 
			 September 135,100 27,200 
			 October 188,250 44,000 
			 November 181,800 54,000 
			 December 121,400 50,600 
			  2004   
			 January 158,750 96,500 
			 February 259,100 97,700 
			 March 268,400 118,000 
			 April 180,050 152,200 
			 May 206,500 119,950 
			 June 330,700 142,500 
			 July 151,000 149,350 
			 August 181,200 132,100 
			 September 190,000 125,600 
			 October 103,600 112,950 
			 November 106,300 147,300 
			 December 77,500 100,500 
			  2005   
			 January 67,300 139,800 
			 February 82,600 134,600 
			 March 131,500 102,800 
			 April 122,600 117,200 
			 May 137,600 61,900 
			 June 154,100 113,500 
			 July 144,100 80,900 
			 August 169,700 76,600 
			 September 181,400 103,500 
			 October 254,800 87,700 
			 November 297,300 124,500 
			 December 175,800 109,500 
			  2006   
			 January 291,600 130,400 
			 February 116,700 114,400 
			 March 400 208,500 
			 April  145,200 
			 May  141,500 
			 June  95,300 
			 July  93,300 
			 August  74,700 
			 September  65,000 
			 October  45,900 
			 November 2,000 52,700 
			 December 11,600 60,900 
			  2007   
			 January  21,800 
			 February  9,210 
			 March  900 
		
	
	
		
			  Clear Skies Programme  Communities stream 
			   
			  Month  Allocated  Disbursed 
			  2003   
			 June 480,121.51  
			 July   
			 August   
			 September 897,316.12 13,396.95 
			 October   
			 November  8,474.90 
			 December 866,706.48 13,757.98 
			  2004   
			 January   
			 February  13,342.00 
			 March 564,974.57  
			 April  13,350.73 
			 May  38,906.57 
			 June 636,600.27 44,785.66 
			 July  15,555.11 
			 August  22,009.41 
			 September 693,582.79 84,713.03 
			 October - 3,967.00 
			 November  23,049.56 
			 December 644,277.43 19,324.52 
			  2005   
			 January  124,965.56 
			 February  231,066.31 
			 March 632,480.48 22,690.80 
			 April  116,699.88 
			 May  103,203.02 
			 June  79,084.23 
			 July  94,861.29 
			 August 676,644.31 126,676.04 
			 September  101,242.50 
			 October  96,637.47 
			 November  180,335.95 
			 December 744,407.76 306,317.92 
			  2006   
			 January  269,361.05 
			 February  192,334.38 
			 March  185,585.38 
			 April  255,749.37 
			 May  158,060.52 
			 June  58,740.57 
			 July  155,840.55 
			 August  166,018.95 
			 September  19,753.75 
			 October  134,608.62 
			 November  149,658.06 
			 December  266,291.39 
			  2007   
			 January  149,824.30 
			 February  166,121.24 
			 March  730,141.61

Technology: Research

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to stimulate research and development in low carbon technologies.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI is supporting a wide range of measures to stimulate research and development in low carbon technologies throughout the R and D energy innovation chain.
	 (a) Existing steps taken include:
	Expenditure by the Research Councils (which are funded from the DTI science budget) on energy related basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training will rise to over 70 million per annum by 2007-08. Research Council investments cover the full range of energy from renewables, fusion, improving networks and conventional generation, through to research to keep the nuclear option open. Energy research remains a cross-Council priority for future allocations.
	Industrial collaborative research and development is funded through the DTI's Technology programme. The Technology programme is designed to stimulate innovation in the UK economy through higher levels of research and development and knowledge transfer. Funding is focussed on projects in strategically important technology areas. The DTI spends around 20 million per annum on low carbon energy technologies as part of this programme.
	The UK is also an active participant in the Framework programme, which is Europe's main funding vehicle for research and development. The Government actively encourages UK participation in the Framework programme, and provides help and support to applicants through a dedicated helpline and structured workshops.
	In Framework programme 6, which ran from 2002-06, the Energy element was worth 880 million of which the UK was successful in obtaining around 100 million of funding. The Energy Thematic within Framework programme 7 is worth 2.3 billion and runs from 2007-2013. The first call is currently underway.
	 (b) Future steps planned include:
	In September 2006 the Secretary of State published a prospectus for a new Energy Technologies Institute, and confirmed that the Government would commit up to 500 million over ten years to this 50:50 public-private partnership. It will provide a focus for industrial collaboration and substantially increase the level of investment in the R and D necessary to identify the most promising energy technologies, and to accelerate their deployment.
	Further support is provided by other Government Departments and organisations. (An example is the Carbon Trust, whichamong other activitiesprovides support for innovation into low carbon energy activities.

TRANSPORT

Blue Badge Scheme

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on changes in enforcement activity for the Blue Badge Scheme since the introduction of changes in regulations in September 2006.

Gillian Merron: It is too early to make an assessment at this stage, as the powers of enforcement have only been available to local authorities since September. However, the Department for Transport is working with local agencies to improve data collection and promote good practice in this area.
	The Department is committed to tackling all Blue Badge misuse as signalled by a three-month strategic review of the scheme, which will report in September 2007. This will culminate in the production of a comprehensive Blue Badge Reform Strategy by April 2008.

Departments: Golden Arrow

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings the Minister of State, the hon. Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) has attended with representatives of  (a) Golden Arrow and  (b) Sovereign Strategy since taking office; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: As part of the consultations on the Department for Transport's review of ports policy, I attended with DfT officials, a lunch on 18 July 2006, organised by Golden Arrow Communications, to hear the views of ports and shipping interests. As Minister of State, I have attended no other meetings organised by Golden Arrow or Sovereign Strategy.
	I have attended conferences, receptions and other such events not organised by Golden Arrow Communications or Sovereign Strategy but at which individuals employed by them may have been present. No record is kept of such encounters.

Driving: Licensing

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people had their driving licences taken away in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006.

Stephen Ladyman: The information is not readily available from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Milton Keynes Railway Station

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of toilet provision within plans for the new platform upgrade at Milton Keynes railway station.

Tom Harris: The design and specification of facilities at Milton Keynes Central station is the responsibility of Network Rail.
	The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question.
	John Armitt
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London NW1 2EE

Milton Keynes Station: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the platform upgrade of Milton Keynes station is due to be completed.

Tom Harris: The modifications to Milton Keynes Central station are due to be completed and commissioned in time for the introduction of the revised timetables for the West Coast Main Line in late 2008 to January 2009.

Motor Vehicles: Safety Measures

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to require all vehicles on UK roads to be fitted with wing mirrors on both sides.

Stephen Ladyman: All vehicles greater than 3,500kg total mass are already required to have a rear view mirror on each side.
	Passenger cars and small goods vehicles are currently required to have an exterior rear view mirror fitted on the offside and either one interior mirror or an exterior mirror on the nearside. From January 2010 all cars and small goods vehicles will be required to have two external mirrors. However, in practice, most manufacturers have been fitting mirrors to both sides of their vehicles for some years.
	Mopeds are required to have one mirror and motorcycles and motor tricycles are required to have two mirrors. We are currently working with user groups to get their views on whether these requirements need amending in the context of the Government's motorcycling strategy.
	New heavy vehicles from January 2007 have been fitted with enhanced mirrors that improve driver vision. Similar requirements are being considered for existing vehicles as part of a package of measures being proposed by the European Commission. We are currently conducting a public consultation on the policy options for these proposals and this consultation closes on 4 May 2007. Copies of the consultation have been placed in the Libraries of the House and can also be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/retrofittingdevicesmirrors/

Pedestrian Crossings

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated completion date is for the non-motorised user crossings programme.

Stephen Ladyman: Delivery of new, and improvements to existing, non-motorised user crossings is ongoing. The Highways Agency is making good progress; 188 of the sites listed in 2003 having been investigated and works completed where appropriate. Future delivery is subject to the availability of funding and the Agency will continue to deliver improvements where this can be done cost-effectively. Therefore, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the completion date.

Railway Stations

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the announcement that 1,000 new carriages are planned to be added to the rail network by 2014, what assessment he has made of the capacity of non-suburban station platforms to accommodate longer trains.

Tom Harris: The Secretary of State will publish a High Level Output Specification (HLOS) in the summer which will specify, inter alia, the additional rail capacity the Government wish to purchase. The rail industry will respond to the HLOS in October 2007 with proposals for delivering this extra capacity, including platform lengthening and other infrastructural investment, where appropriate.

Roads: Accidents

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to collate information on the number of foreign vehicles involved in road traffic accidents in the UK.

Stephen Ladyman: Since January 2005 the Department has collected information on whether vehicles involved in reported personal injury accidents in Great Britain are foreign registered. This information is published on the Department's website in the annual publication Road Casualties Great Britain: 2005 annual report at the following link:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesgbar/roadcasualtiesgreatbritain2005
	Copies of the report are also available in the Libraries of the House.

Rolling Stock

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to  (a) the replacement of the British Rail Class 43 rolling stock and  (b) a new generation high speed train.

Tom Harris: The Department is currently seeking Expressions of Interest for the development and eventual delivery of a new fleet of Intercity Express trains suitable to replace the present high speed trains.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in approving time over distance cameras.

Stephen Ladyman: Average speed cameras were approved at 16 core sites within the National Safety Camera Programme. The National Safety Camera Programme ceased on 31 March 2007. In accordance with DfT Circular 01/2007, highway authorities now have the freedom to deploy type-approved average speed cameras without the Department's approval. The type approval of speed enforcement devices is a matter for the Home Office.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the first time over distance cameras are expected to be available for use.

Stephen Ladyman: The first average speed camera site within the National Safety Camera Programme was established in July 2000.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effectiveness of time over distance cameras in reducing the levels of  (a) fatal,  (b) major and  (c) minor road injuries.

Stephen Ladyman: No specific assessment has been made of the effectiveness of time-over-distance cameras. However the independent 4-year evaluation report of the National Safety Camera Programme covered any time-over-distance cameras operating between April 2000 and March 2004. The independent academics concluded that they were equally as effective in reducing collisions and casualties as other fixed and red-light cameras. They also concluded that time-over-distance cameras have been particularly effective at reducing excessive speeds, which are defined as 15mph over the speed limit.

Tractors: Safety

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are taken to regulate the safety and roadworthiness of farm tractors.

Stephen Ladyman: The primary responsibility for ensuring the safety and roadworthiness of a farm tractor rests with the person who operates and uses itexactly in the same way as it does with any type of vehicle. However, the condition of farm tractors is none the less subject to compliance checks by both the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, and by the Health and Safety Executive during routine farm visits.

TREASURY

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths there were from carbon monoxide poisoning in each London borough in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 April 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths there were from carbon monoxide poisoning in each London borough in each of the last five years. (132148)
	The attached table provides the number of deaths where the toxic effect of carbon monoxide was the cause of death, in each London borough, from 2001 to 2005 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths with a cause of carbon monoxide poisoning,( 1)  London boroughs, 2001-05( 2,3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Greater London 36 28 27 37 23 
			 Inner London 6 8 14 10 5 
			 Camden 0 0 0 0 0 
			 City of London 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Hackney 1 1 2 0 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 2 0 1 0 
			 Haringey 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Islington 0 0 0 3 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 0 2 0 0 
			 Lambeth 0 1 2 0 0 
			 Lewisham 1 0 1 0 2 
			 Newham 0 1 3 0 0 
			 Southwark 1 0 3 3 1 
			 Tower Hamlets 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Wandsworth 2 1 0 0 1 
			 Westminster 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Outer London 30 20 13 27 18 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 2 0 0 0 
			 Barnet 2 1 1 0 1 
			 Bexley 4 1 0 3 0 
			 Brent 0 3 1 2 1 
			 Bromley 2 2 1 1 3 
			 Croydon 1 1 1 0 2 
			 Ealing 2 3 1 2 0 
			 Enfield 1 3 1 0 0 
			 Greenwich 2 0 0 3 1 
			 Harrow 2 0 1 3 0 
			 Havering 3 1 0 2 0 
			 Hillingdon 2 1 0 1 3 
			 Hounslow 1 0 0 1 1 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Merton 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Redbridge 2 1 2 2 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3 0 1 1 0 
			 Sutton 2 0 2 0 2 
			 Waltham Forest 0 1 1 5 3 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code T58. (2) Based on local authority boundaries as of 2007. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Child Trust Fund

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2007,  Official Report, column 472W, on the Child Trust Fund, how much was paid to Sheree Murphy to promote the Child Trust Fund; and what activities she undertook.

Edward Balls: In support of Child Trust Fund week, Sheree Murphy was employed by HMRC to participate in interviews, features and photo shoots for national TV, press, radio, parenting and women's magazines. She was also featured in the Child Trust Fund Week pack, which helped partner organisations appeal to parents. The cost was 25,000.

Corporation Tax: Private Finance Initiative

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the changes in corporation tax allowances announced in the 2007 Budget on the level of Government liabilities in private finance initiative contracts.

Dawn Primarolo: The effect of the changes in capital allowances cannot be examined in isolation from other changes to corporation tax announced in the Budget; the proposed changes in the rate of corporation tax have a corresponding impact. Overall, the impact of the reforms to corporation tax announced in the 2007 Budget is to reduce the cost of capital for investment.

Departmental Press Office

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed in the press offices of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies, broken down by pay band.

John Healey: The numbers of staff employed in the Press Office of the Treasury and its agencies as at 31 December 2006 are in the following table.
	
		
			  Department  Number of staff 
			  GAD Nil 
			   
			  HM Treasury 2 Range B 
			  3 Range C 
			  2 Range D 
			  3 Range E 
			  1 Team Leader 
			   
			  NSI 3 Range D 
			  1 Range E 
			   
			  OGC 1 Range B 
			  2 Range D 
			  1 Team Leader 
			   
			  OGC Buying Solutions 1 Range C 
			   
			  Royal Mint Nil

Departmental Travel

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which company provides travel management services to his Department; and what the total value of the contract was in each year since 1997.

John Healey: Travel management services for air, sea and rail are currently provided under a former Inland Revenue (now part of HM Revenue and Customs) framework contract with Carlson Wagonlit Travel UK Limited. The Treasury has spent the following amounts on travel management services between July 2002 and March 2006.
	
		
			  Period  Fees( 1)( ) (000) 
			 July 2002-03 35,000 
			 2003-04 60,000 
			 2004-05 86,000 
			 2005-06 123,000 
			 (1 )Including VAT 
		
	
	The level of fees paid for travel management services obviously correspond to the level of travel undertaken. As a result, the figures for 2004-05 and 2005-06 reflect the higher levels of travel undertaken throughout 2005 as a result of HM Treasury's international commitments during the UK's dual presidencies of the EU and G7, as well as the visits undertaken by the Chancellor and his officials during that period to Africa, the Middle East and China.
	The information prior to July 2002 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people in his Department participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people in his Department who participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98 were paid between (i) 0 to 25,000, (ii) 25,001 to 50,000, (iii) 50,001 to 75,000, (iv) 75,001 to 100,000 and (v) over 100,000; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 2 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1587-8W. An analysis of the costs between voluntary and compulsory schemes, or broken down by cost bands, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Silverfish Productions

David Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contracts his Department has awarded to Silverfish Productions Limited in each of the last three years; and at what cost.

John Healey: None.

Employment: Lone Parents

David Gauke: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast he has made of the employment rate for lone parents in 2010-11.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 April 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about lone parent employment rates. (132039)
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimate of the proportion of lone parents of working age that are in employment, for the three months ending May 2006, is 56.5 per cent. A historical series of lone parent employment rates is published in the 'Work and worklessness among households' First Release, which is available on the National Statistics website:
	http:www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=8552.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	ONS does not produce forecasts of lone parent employment rates.

Gift Aid

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely effect on charities receiving Gift Aid following the reduction in the basic rate of income tax to 20 per cent. from April 2008.

Dawn Primarolo: The precise impact on charities' income will depend on the behavioural reactions of donors and charities to the recent tax changes, and will also depend on any measures adopted to drive up giving through gift aid as a result of the consultation with the sector, which we will report on at the pre-Budget report. The strong upward trend in donations is however expected to result in consistent year-on-year growth in charities' overall income from giving through gift aid, including in the year 2008-09.

Income Tax: Tax Evasion

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the  (a) number of cases of and  (b) loss of revenue through income tax evasion by those resident in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) each region and (iii) each London borough in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: There are currently no reliable estimates of the income tax revenue lost through tax evasion.

Inheritance Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue implications of raising the inheritance tax threshold to  (a) 350,000,  (b) 400,000,  (c) 450,000 and  (d) 500,000 for each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Raising the inheritance tax threshold with effect from 2007-08 would have the following effect on forecast revenue receipts:
	
		
			  Reduction in revenue ( billions) arising from raising the threshold to: 
			   350,000  400,000  450,000  500,000 
			 2007-08 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.7 
			 2008-09 0.5 1.0 1.3 1.5 
			 2009-10 0.6 1.1 1.4 1.7 
			 2010-11 0.6 1.1 1.5 1.8

Inheritance Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue implications of extending the seven year rule for exemption of inheritance tax to 15 years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Information to make a reliable estimate is not available.

Minimum Wage

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people receiving the national minimum wage, broken down by level of total annual earnings.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table shows the number of employee jobs estimated to have been paying the national minimum wage in April 2006, split by gross annual earnings. In total, around 385,000 employee jobs were paid the national minimum wage.
	
		
			  Employee jobs( 1)  paying the national minimum wage( 2) 
			   Gross annual earnings 
			   Less than 5000  5000 to 9,999  10,000 to 14,999  15,000 or more 
			 Jobs paying national minimum wage 213,000 126,000 41,000 4,000 
			 (1) Employees whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. (2) 16-17 year-olds earning 3.00 per hour, 18-21 year-olds earning 4.25 per hour, and those age 22 and over earning 5.05.  Note: Figures may not sum due to rounding.  Source:  Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, April 2006, Office for National Statistics

Personal Savings

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he received on the implications for savings as a consequence of the abolition of personal equity plans and their replacement with individual savings accounts.

Edward Balls: As part of a package of reforms to be implemented from April 2008 aimed at making the ISA regime simpler and more flexible for savers, all remaining PEPs will be brought within the ISA wrapper, by aligning the rules for the two schemes.
	The Government have received representations from the industry and consumer representatives that this change will enable investors to integrate their stocks and shares investments within the ISA wrapper and so manage their funds more effectively, potentially leading to reduced administration costs for providers and lower account charges for customers in future. Existing PEP investors will also benefit from the wider range of investments available under the ISA, such as stakeholder accounts and insurance.

Schools: Cadets

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2007,  Official Report, column 770W, on schools: cadets, which fundraising  (a) events and  (b) meetings Rod Aldridge has attended in the last six months as part of his duties.

Dawn Primarolo: Rod Aldridge engages in fundraising for a wide range of youth volunteering activities through V, but has no specific responsibilities for fundraising for cadets.

Smuggling: Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value was of untaxed spirits intercepted in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs do not record the value of all spirits intercepted. HMRC does estimate the value of each non-UK duty paid spirits seizure however. The total estimated value of spirits seizures made in Northern Ireland during 2005-06 is 13,310. The amount of spirits seized during 2006-07 will be published later this year.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue implications of raising the  (a) one per cent. stamp duty land tax threshold to 150,000 and three per cent. threshold to 300,000 and  (b) one per cent. threshold to 200,000 and three per cent. threshold to 350,000; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The estimated cost in 2007-08 of raising the residential stamp duty land tax thresholds to levels indicated by  (a) and  (b) are given in the following table. The estimates in this table make allowance for expected associated behavioural effects:
	
		
			   New 1 per cent. starting threshold  ()  New 3 per cent. starting threshold  ()  Cost ( billion) 
			 Change  (a) 150,001 300,001 0.9 
			 Change  (b) 200,001 350,001 1.8

Tax Thresholds

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue implications of raising the threshold at which people pay income tax and national insurance to 50,000 in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The cost of increasing the higher rate threshold, upper earnings limit and upper profits limit to 50,000 in 2008-09 to 2010-11 can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Cost ( billion) 
			   Income tax  National insurance 
			 2008-09 5.3 1.9 
			 2009-10 4.3 1.4 
			 2010-11 3.7 1.2 
		
	
	The estimates are based on the 2004-05 Survey of Personal Incomes projected forward against an indexed baseline which includes the reforms to simplify the income tax and national insurance system announced at Budget 2007.
	The figures exclude any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change which could be significant given the scale of the change.

Taxation: Pensions

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on business investment of the abolition of tax credits for pension funds in 1997.

Edward Balls: The package of business tax reforms announced in the 1997 Budget, including the abolition of payable tax credits, has contributed to a stronger investment climate for UK companies. The investment statistics show this.
	In the quarter after the July 1997 Budget, business investment grew by 1frac34; per cent. In the quarter after that, it rose by 6.1 per cent., and in the quarter after that, it rose by another 7.1 per cent.
	Between the July 1997 Budget and the 1998 Budget, business investment had risen by 16 per cent. This is around three times as fast as it had grown in the run-up to the previous Administration's last Budget in early 1997.
	Since 1997, real business investment has risen by 50 per cent.
	This year investment growth is forecast to be the fastest in the G7 (according to the OECD).
	Whole economy investment has risen in every year since 1997. In the previous 18 years, investment growth was negative over a quarter of this period.

Whistleblowers

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made to HM Revenue and Customs' policy on whistleblowing; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Dawn Primarolo: The essential difference and change between the policies of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise and that of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on Reporting Concerns ('whistleblowing') is:
	a change of emphasis to positively encourage, as well as enable, genuine reporting. Encouragement to raise concerns is clearer and more explicit;
	more prominence, better access and an increase in the number (from 13 to 25) of nominated officers, who provide independent advice and guide staff on these issues, and are appointed by the executive chairman; and
	agreed and clearly stated top management commitment, understanding and support.
	The stated purpose of the HMRC policy is to encourage and enable those who work for HMRC who have serious concerns of malpractice, wrongdoing or unethical behaviour at work to raise their concerns within the Department without fear of reprisal.
	The HMRC policy and guidance has been placed in the Library of the House.

Working Tax Credit: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people are  (a) eligible for and  (b) claiming working tax credit in Castle Point;
	(2)  how many people in Castle Point  (a) are eligible for and  (b) receive child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of child and working tax credit take-up rates for 2004-05 are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-take-up.htm
	Take-up rates at United Kingdom level are shown in table 1. Take-up rates for working families with children at country and regional level are shown in table 9. Take-up rate estimates are not available at parliamentary constituency level.
	Estimated numbers of families benefiting from tax credits, by constituency, are available only for in-work families. The average number in 2004-05 of such families with positive awards in each constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, are published in Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 2004-05 Geographical Analysis. This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.
	Information for 2005-06 awards is due to be published in May 2007.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Big Brother Project

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unemployed single parents took part in the Big Brother project in each of the last two years for which figures are available, broken down by area.

Jim Murphy: The Big Brother project is a pilot scheme which is intended to help single parents back to work. The project ran in the Hereford and Worcester Jobcentre Plus district (funded by the European Social Fund) from January 2005 to March 2007; in the South Tyne and Wear Valley and Northumbria districts from November 2006 to March 2007 and has been running in the Manchester East and West district since November 2006 with a projected end date of March 2008.
	Information on the number of lone parents who have taken part in the Big Brother project is in the following table.
	
		
			  Big Brother Project starts 
			  District  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Hereford and Worcester(1) 11 225 208 
			 Northumbria(2)   131 
			 South Tyne and Wear(2)   152 
			 Manchester East and West(3)   124 
			 (1 )Started in January 2005. (2 )Started in November 2006. (3 )Started in November 2006.  Note: Years are financial rather than calendar years.

Council Tax

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the costs of administering council tax benefit were to  (a) central government and  (b) local government in the last financial year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Council Tax Benefits: Scotland

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in each of the last three years to fund council tax benefit in Scotland.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			   CTB subsidy paid to Scottish local authorities  ( million) 
			 2004-05 345 
			 2005-06 354 
			  Notes: 1. Local authorities pay CTB to eligible claimants and central Government funds the payments by way of CTB subsidy paid to the authorities. 2. Benefit which is paid in accordance with CTB rules is subsidised at 100 per cent., but lower rates of subsidy are paid where there has been an overpayment of benefit, caused by, for example, claimant error or fraud.  Source: Audited subsidy claims submitted to DWP by local authorities.

Social Security Benefits

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the levels of  (a) fraud,  (b) customer error and  (c) official error in (i) attendance allowance, (ii) carer's allowance, (iii) basic state pension, (iv) bereavement benefit, (v) industrial injuries benefit, (vi) maternity allowance, (vii) severe disablement allowance, (viii) the Social Fund, (ix) widow's benefit, (x) winter fuel payments, (xi) income support, (xii) incapacity benefit, (xiii) disability living allowance, (xiv) jobseeker's allowance, (xv) housing benefit, (xvi) pension credit and (xvii) council tax benefit in each year since 2001 in (A) percentage terms and (B) cash terms; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Government are committed to reducing fraud and error across the benefits system, and we are succeeding. For example, fraud across the benefits system was down from around 2 billion (2 per cent. of expenditure) in 2001 to an estimated 0.7 billion (0.6 per cent. of expenditure) by 2005-06. And National Statistics estimate that fraud and error loss in income support and jobseeker's allowance are now at their lowest everby March 2006, the amount lost had reduced by around half compared to 1997-98.
	Estimates of fraud and error in income support, jobseeker's allowance, pension credit and housing benefit can be found in National Statistics reports, and additional tables on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd2/fraud_error.asp
	No estimates are available for attendance allowance, industrial injuries disablement benefit, maternity allowance, winter fuel payments and the social fund.
	The available estimates for other benefits are in the tables. These estimates are consistent with the methodology used for those presented for 2003-04 onwards in the Department's resource accounts. For some benefits, estimates before 2003-04 will differ from figures published earlier due to improved assumptions and methodology.
	
		
			  Carer's allowance 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid ( million) 
			 Fraud 3.9 40 
			 Customer error 1.0 10 
			 Official error 0.6 10 
			  Notes: 1. Carer's allowance is not reviewed regularly. These estimates are based on the assumption that the percentage of expenditure overpaid has remained constant since it was last reviewed in 1996. 2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 10 million. The totals may appear different from the sum of the components due to this rounding. 
		
	
	
		
			  State pension 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Official error 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million)  Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million)  Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million) 
			 2001-02 0.1 30 0.0 0 0.1 40 
			 2002-03 0.1 30 0.0 0 0.0 10 
			 2003-04 0.1 30 0.0 0 0.1 20 
			 2004-05 0.1 30 0.0 0 0.1 30 
			 2005-06 0.0 0 0.1 40 0.1 30 
			  Notes: 1. These estimates are for state pension as a whole. Separate estimates for basic state pension are not available. 2. Fraud and customer error figures up to 2004-05 are based on the assumption that the level of fraud and error in state pension had not changed since it was reviewed in 1995. 3. Fraud and customer error estimates for 2005-06 are taken from the 2005-06 National Benefit Review pilot exercise. 4. All official error estimates are derived from annual measurement of official error for the relevant year. 5. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent. or 10 million. Figures of 0.0 per cent. or 0 million indicate an estimate of less than 0.05 per cent. or 5 million respectively. The totals may appear different from the sum of the components due to this rounding. 
		
	
	
		
			  Bereavement benefit and widow's benefits 
			   Official error 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid ( million) 
			 2001-02 0.7 8 
			 2002-03 0.3 3 
			 2003-04 0.2 2 
			 2004-05 0.0 1 
			 2005-06 1.1 10 
			  Notes: 1. For bereavement benefits and widow's benefits, only official error has been measured. 2. The estimates are based on very small samples. The results for BB and WB cannot be separated, and are subject to a large degree of statistical uncertainty. 
		
	
	
		
			  Severe disablement allowance 
			   Official error 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid ( million) 
			 2001-02 1.1 11 
			 2002-03 0.4 4 
			 2003-04 0.2 2 
			 2004-05 0.5 5 
			  Note: For severe disablement allowance, only official error has been measured, and only from 2001-02 to 2004-05. 
		
	
	 Incapacity benefit
	It is important to note that changes were made to the identification of error in 2004-05. This led to the inclusion of types of official error, valued at an estimated 20 million, which were not previously captured by the sampling.
	
		
			   Fraud  Customer error  Official error 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million)  Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million)  Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million) 
			 2001-02 0.1 10 0.2 20 0.5 30 
			 2002-03 0.1 10 0.2 20 0.6 40 
			 2003-04 0.1 10 0.2 20 0.8 50 
			 2004-05 0.1 10 0.2 20 1.5 100 
			 2005-06 0.1 10 0.2 20 1.3 90 
			  Notes: 1. Fraud and error in incapacity benefit is not measured every year. The last full review was in 2000-01. As there has been no measurement in other years, it is assumed that the percentage level of fraud and customer error have remained constant. All of the fraud and customer error estimates are calculated by applying the percentage overpaid in 2000-01 to the annual expenditure on incapacity benefit. 2. Official error in incapacity benefit has been measured in every year since 2000-01. 3. The official error estimates for 2004-05 and 2005-06 differ from those published in the relevant departmental resource accounts, as up-to-date estimates were not available at the time. 4. As the measurement system is based on the examination of a sample of the incapacity benefit case load, the estimates are subject to a degree of statistical uncertainty. For example, the central estimate of official error in 2005-06 is 90 million, but the range in which we can be 95 per cent. sure that the true value lies runs from 70 million to 120 million. 
		
	
	
		
			  Disability living allowance 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Official error 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million)  Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million)  Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million) 
			 2001-02 0.5 30 0.6 40 0.7 50 
			 2002-03 0.5 30 0.6 40 0.7 50 
			 2003-04 0.5 40 0.6 50 0.7 60 
			 2004-05 0.5 40 0.6 50 0.7 60 
			 2005-06 0.5 40 0.6 50 0.7 60 
			  Notes: 1. DLA was last reviewed in 2005. Estimates for 2003-04 onwards, as presented in the Department's resource accounts are based on the assumption that the proportion of expenditure overpaid has not changed. 2. The 2004-05 DLA National Benefit Review identified cases where the change in customer's needs has been so gradual that it would be unreasonable to expect them to know at which point their entitlement to DLA might have changed. These cases do not result in a recoverable overpayment as we cannot quantify or define when the customer's change occurred. Because legislation requires the Secretary of State to prove that entitlement to DLA is incorrect, rather than requiring the customer to inform us that their needs have changed, cases in this subcategory are legally correct. The difference between what claimants in these cases are receiving in DLA and what they would receive if their benefit was reassessed is estimated to be around 600 million a year. 3. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent. or 10 million. The totals may appear different from the sum of the components due to this rounding. 
		
	
	
		
			  Council tax benefit 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Official error 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million)  Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million)  Percentage of overspend  Overpaid  ( million) 
			 2002-03 1.9 50 1.9 50 1.1 30 
			 2003-04 1.4 40 2.3 70 1.2 40 
			 2004-05 1.3 50 2.7 100 1.0 40 
			 2005-06 1.0 40 3.1 120 1.3 50 
			  Note: Fraud and error in council tax benefit is not directly measured. As council tax benefit is similar to housing benefit in both regulations and administration, it is assumed that the proportion of expenditure overpaid is the same as for housing benefit.

Social Security Benefits: Acton and Harrow

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff from the Acton and Harrow transitional offices in  (a) clerical and  (b) executive grades will be unable to move to benefit delivery centres due to living outside the daily travelling distance; and what measures have been put in place to minimise the resultant skills gap.

Anne McGuire: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 18 April 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many staff from the Acton and Harrow transitional offices will be unable to move to Benefit Delivery Centres due to living outside the daily travelling distance, and what measures have been put in place to minimise the resultant skills gap. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	There are 25 clerical staff (14 from Acton and 11 from Harrow) and 8 executive grade staff (4 from Acton and 4 from Harrow) who are unable to be redeployed to a Benefit Delivery Centre. Our aim is to redeploy all these staff within Jobcentre Plus, the Department for Work and Pensions or another Government Department. We are currently working with those affected to find suitable redeployment opportunities.
	The Benefit Delivery Centres are manned by experienced staff from across London. These staff have become available as local benefit processing sites have been closed as part of the Jobcentre Plus roll-out process. In addition the movement of work takes into account any training needs these staff may have, to enable us to have training in place to support the migration.
	I hope this is helpful.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of fraudulent applications for benefits in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.